Teen Drug Help
Alcohol Linked to Rise in Fatal Car Crashes Involving Young Women
New research indicates that alcohol is becoming an increasingly important factor in the number of fatal car crashes involving young women drivers in the United States. In 2007 alone, alcohol-related crashes accounted for almost one-third of all fatal car crashes in the United States.
The new research, which was recently published in the journal Injury Prevention, included an analysis of data from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on fatal road traffic collisions for the years 1995 to 2007. The study shows that the increase in the proportion of young female drivers with a positive blood alcohol test involved in a fatal collision was greater (3.1%) than it was for young male drivers (1.2%).
In addition, the increase in the proportion of young drivers involved in fatal crashes with positive blood alcohol tests at all times of the week was greater among young women than it was among young men. The rate increased by 3.5% on weekdays and 2.2% on weekends among young women. By contrast, it rose by 1.5% on weekdays and 0.4% on weekends among young men.
(Source: sciencedaily.com)
Labels: alcohol, car accidents
Alcohol Outlets in a Neighborhood Influence Alcohol-Related Problems Among Youth
A new study that will be appearing in the March 2010 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, indicates that a neighborhood's alcohol environment plays a role in regulating the risks that youth and young adults will be exposed to.
Researchers have discovered that the pattern of alcohol-related injuries among underage youth and young adults is not random. Rather, it is shaped by the density and type of alcohol outlets that exist in the neighborhood. These injuries include accidents, automobile crashes and assaults. For the study, researchers obtained non-public hospital discharge data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development on underage youth (18- to 20-year-olds) and young adult (21- to 29-year-olds).
Paul J. Gruenewald, senior research scientist at the Prevention Research Center and corresponding author for the study, commented on the study's findings: "Over the past four decades, public health researchers have come to recognize that although most drinkers safely purchase and enjoy alcohol from alcohol outlets, these places are also associated with serious alcohol-related problems among young people and adults."
Richard Scribner, D'Angelo Professor of Alcohol Research at the LSU School of Public Health, added: "In the early studies, researchers believed associations were due to increased alcohol consumption related to higher alcohol outlet densities.
"However, as the research area has matured, the relations appear to be far more complex. It seems that alcohol outlets represent an important social institution within a neighborhood. As a result, their effects are not limited to merely the consequences of the sale of alcohol."
(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)
Labels: alcohol, teen drinking
States that Lower Drinking Age May Endanger Teens in Neighboring States
According to research conducted by the University of Michigan and Stanford University, 18- and 19-year-old drivers who live in a state where the minimum legal drinking age is 21, but live within 25 miles of another state where the drinking age is 18 or 19 are more likely to be involved in a fatal automobile accident.
University of Michigan economist Joel Slemrod, study co-author, commented on the findings: "The availability of different policies just across the border — be they lower excise taxes or the legal sale of fireworks — can compromise the impact of a jurisdiction's own policies and cause efficiency costs as consumers pursue the goods.
"In the case of legalized drinking, being able to drink legally across the border has an additional implication for social costs because the act of drinking and then driving home drunk can itself be dangerous, even fatal, both to the cross-border consumers and other unfortunate drivers and pedestrians."
Slemrod, and Stanford University colleague Michael Lovenheim, studied the effect of states' different minimum drinking ages on alcohol-related traffic deaths since 1977. For the years after 1987, when 21 years of age became the minimum drinking age in all 50 states, they focused on national borders with Canada and Mexico. The researchers found that raising the legal drinking age to 21 has resulted in 5 percent fewer drunk driving fatal automobile accidents for 18-year-olds and 4 percent fewer for 19-year-olds.
(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)
Labels: alcohol, law, underage-drinking
Football Game Days Mean Most Drinking for College Students
According to research by the University of Texas at Austin, college students drink larger amounts of alcohol on football game days than on other well-known drinking days such as New Year's Eve and Halloween.
Kim Fromme, an author of the study and director of the University's Studies on Alcohol, Health and Risky Activities Laboratory, commented on the findings: "Most events associated with heavy drinking occur only once a year, such as Spring Break, or once in a lifetime, such as a 21st birthday, but the weekly football schedule presents students with more regular opportunities to drink."
Fromme and co-author Dan J. Neal of Kent State University observed students during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 University of Texas at Austin football seasons. They found that students were especially likely to drink more during high-profile games against conference or national rivals. However, the increased rates only occurred when students were actually on campus.
Fromme commented on this phenomenon: "These results indicate drinking is connected not only to the game itself, but to the social context associated with the event."
(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)
Labels: alcohol, college-drinking, sports
Cheap Alcohol Linked to Harmful Underage Drinking in U.K. Teens
Researchers in the Northwest of England recently conducted a study of 9,833 15- to 16-year-olds and found that extremely low cost alcohol products are strongly linked to harmful underage drinking.
The researchers, a team from Liverpool John Moores University and Trading Standards (Northwest), surveyed the teens' alcohol consumption habits, the types of drinks they consumed, locations where drinks were consumed, methods of access to alcohol and harm encountered by drinking teens.
Mark Bellis, a researcher, commented on typical outcomes for teens who drank: "Regretted sex after drinking, having been involved in violence when drunk, consuming alcohol in public places and forgetting things after drinking had all been experienced by relatively large proportions of teen drinkers. For children who drink alcohol we did not find any typical drinking patterns where children were at no risk of harms. Accessing alcohol through parents did not remove the risks of alcohol related harms but was associated with lower levels of risk."
Interestingly, researchers found that 19.9 percent of teen drinkers who obtained alcohol from their parents and who drank once per week had been involved in violence when drunk. Among teens whose only access to alcohol was through other means, the incidence of violence increased to 35.9 percent. In addition, researchers found a strong correlation between the consumption of cheaper alcohol products and increased reporting of violence when drunk, risky sexual behavior and drinking in public places.
Bellis said, "Parental efforts should be matched by genuine legislative and enforcement activity to reduce independent access to alcohol by children and to increase the price of cheap alcohol products."
(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)
Labels: alcohol, sex, underage-drinking, violence
High Rates of Teen Drinking in Washington State, Surveys Say
According to the national Monitoring the Future Survey, 11 percent of high school seniors reported "extreme binge drinking" within the two weeks prior to the survey. Extreme binge drinking is defined as consuming 10 or more alcoholic beverages in a single sitting. Approximately 6 percent reported consuming more than 15 drinks in a row in the two weeks prior to the survey.
The Washington State Healthy Youth Survey reported similar findings. The 2008 state survey found that almost 18 percent of 10th graders are binge drinkers, which is a higher percentage than those that are cigarette smokers (14 percent). Among Washington State 8th graders, 41 percent who drink reported getting alcohol from home and 24 percent reported that their parents have not talked to them about alcohol and its risks.
David Dickinson, director of the Department of Social and Health Services Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR), commented: "Underage drinking, especially binge drinking, is extremely risky, with alcohol poisoning being a potentially fatal outcome. Alcohol causes great harm to the developing teen brain. Teens who drink are more likely to become pregnant, fail in school, and develop alcohol dependence.
"Parents who give kids the facts about alcohol, set healthy examples, and never give alcohol to someone under 21, have the most influence in preventing underage drinking."
(Source: www.dhs.wa.gov)
Labels: alcohol, binge drinking, underage-drinking
Alcohol Abuse a Major Concern for a Connecticut University
Fairfield University of Fairfield, Conn., has a problem with alcohol. Between 2007 and 2008, the University experienced a 70 percent increase in cases of alcohol disciplinary action. According to the Princeton Review, Fairfield University ranks third in the nation for usage of hard alcohol on campus.
One student commented, "The alcohol is more accessible than drugs, and that makes it more dangerous because people will indulge more into it."
According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, Fairfield University is leading a nationwide trend. CASA also states that "the abuse of prescription drugs and marijuana has increased dramatically since the mid-1990s."
Students say that drinking is the most common form of substance use because it is perceived to be safer than drugs and the consequences associated with getting caught are much less severe for alcohol than for other substances.
Student Ryan King echoes the misguided perception of many college students: "I think [students] drink more because of the perception that it's safer, and because it's legal. It doesn't mean that alcohol is safe, but it's safer than taking drugs."
Unfortunately, alcohol poisoning and alcohol-related injuries and fatalities are continuing realities on many college campuses, fueled by the idea that "alcohol is safer than drugs." Experts estimate that over 1,700 college students die each year from alcohol-related accidents and injuries, and each year approximately 599,000 college students are unintentionally injured while under the influence of alcohol.
(Sources: www.fairfieldmirror.com, www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov)
Labels: alcohol, college-drinking, prescription-drug-abuse
Wisconsin School District's New Prevention Effort Directed at Parents
The Kimberly Area School District in Wisconsin is launching a new teen drug use prevention effort aimed at reaching parents. Operation Recommit will consist of a series of films and workshops starting this month and running through the end of the school year. The program is designed to combat teen drug use by building community knowledge of and support for the district's efforts to keep teens away from drugs and alcohol.
Kathy Verstegen, a nurse at Kimberly High School, believes that parental support and knowledge is vital to helping students make healthy decisions regarding the use of alcohol or drugs. She believes that some parents lose sight of how much they're needed as their children grow.
"Anyone can change a diaper," she said. "It really takes a dedicated parent to sit down and talk about these really big issues with their kids."
(Source: www.postcrescent.com)
Labels: alcohol, drug prevention, teen drug use
Oregon Police Hope to Curb Drinking Among Middle School Students
Police in Ashland, Ore., are hoping to curb drinking among middle school students by giving presentations to area students on the consequences of alcohol abuse.
Lt. Corey Falls, a local police official, commented on the effort: "I think our No. 1 concern is the binge drinking. The earlier that kids start drinking, the worse that it becomes."
Falls reports that binge drinking is the most common problem that area police officers encounter when dealing with teens and alcohol. Binge drinking is also associated with alcohol poisoning and sexual assaults among teens in Ashland, according to Falls.
"Those are some of the extremes that we see from binge drinking," he said.
In 2007, Ashland police issued 244 citations to minors for being in possession of alcohol; 87 of these citations were given to teens under the age of 18. At the end of October, this year, police had issued 154 citations to minors, 30 of these to juveniles.
(Source: www.dailytidings.com)
Labels: alcohol, binge drinking, drinking
Rhode Island Project Harnesses 'Sticker Shock' to Reduce Teen Drinking
A group of Rhode Island volunteers is hoping to reduce teen drinking during the holiday season by harnessing the power of "sticker shock." The group is visiting local retailers of alcoholic beverages to paste brightly colored warning labels on cartons of beer and wine coolers and bottles of liquor.
The four-inch-wide stickers feature the phrase, "Think buying alcohol for someone under 21 is not a big deal? Think again." The stickers also list the state penalties for providing alcohol to minors. These penalties start with a $1,000 fine for a first offense, and continue on to jail time and more significant fines for subsequent incidents.
Mary Lou Serra, coordinator of the local Westerly Substance Abuse Task Force, commented: "The stickers are designed to make people think. The holidays are upon us. It's a great time of the year. But it's also a frightening time since statistics show that the holidays provide a perfect excuse for minors to drink ... [often] adults provide the kids with the alcohol. We want that practice to stop."
The group recently spent about $1,500 for 5,000 stickers.
(Source: www.projo.com)
Labels: alcohol, teen drinking
Ontario Teens: Fewer Are Drinking but Other Substance Use Behaviors Remain Steady
According to a new study by the Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), fewer Ontario teenagers are drinking alcohol than a decade ago. However, binge drinking and use of marijuana haven't declined in recent years.
In 2009, approximately 58 percent of students in grades 7 to 12 reported drinking within the last year – a decrease of 8 percent since 1999. However, levels of pot use and binge drinking have remained steady since 2007. About one-fourth of Ontario teens reported binge drinking within one month of the survey, and one-fourth reported using marijuana within the past year.
Study co-author Robert Mann, a senior researcher on substance abuse at CAMH, commented on the results: "If you look over the past decade, you see a lot of decline of things like drinking, smoking, use of the harder drugs. That seems to stop this year. We're concerned that the declines appear to have slowed down or stopped and it's unclear what's going to happen next."
(Source: www.theglobeandmail.com)
Labels: alcohol, binge drinking, marijuana
Australian Children as Young as 10 Are Receiving Substance Abuse Treatment
A new study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that a number of pre-teen children have sought treatment for substance abuse problems, including abuse of amphetamines, marijuana, alcohol and heroin.
The Institute of Health reports that the number of Australians getting help from treatment providers is on the rise. Last year, treatment sessions increased from 7,000 to 154,0000. The Institute also reports that alcohol is, by far, the most common substance abuse problem.
Amber Jefferson, from the Institute, recounted drug use data, including: "Alcohol comprising 44 per cent of episodes in 2007/08, compares to 38 per cent back in 2002/03 ... and alcohol treatment is followed by treatment for cannabis at 22 percent, amphetamines 11 percent and heroin at 11 percent."
(Source: www.abc.net.au)
Labels: alcohol, heroin, marijuana, teen substance abuse, treatment
Alcohol Abuse Decreases at Sacramento State University
Since 2006, liquor law violations at Sacramento State University have decreased. Violations have also decreased throughout the California State University (CSU) system.
According to the fourth biennial report on CSU's Alcohol Policies and Prevention programs, the overall number of students abusing alcohol has declined since the University first initiated alcohol abuse prevention efforts in 2001.
CSU's alcohol policies and prevention programs require each campus in the CSU system to report the status and progress of alcohol education and prevention efforts every two years. The goal is to decrease and prevent alcohol-related incidents among students, including drunk driving, underage drinking, binge drinking, and alcohol-related injuries and fatalities.
Cyndra Krogen-Morton, professional staff and health educator of Sacramento State's Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Education Program, commented on the encouraging trend: "I am very excited about it. We have been working hard with the law enforcement and Alcoholic Beverage Control. I'm happy that the chancellor's efforts are paying off."
(Source: media.www.statehornet.com)
Labels: alcohol, binge drinking, college-drinking, substance use, underage-drinking
Hearing About Parent Experiences with Drug, Alcohol Use Benefits Teens
Teens may benefit from hearing about their parents' own experiences with alcohol and drugs, according to a recent study.
The study, conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of the Hazelden Foundation, found that most teens go to their parents first for advice about alcohol and drug use. About two-thirds of teens (63 percent) said that hearing about their parents' experiences with drugs or alcohol made them more responsible about their own substance use. Hearing about how drugs or alcohol negatively impacted a parent's life helps to dispel the idea that drinking or using drugs "doesn't hurt anyone."
About 67 percent of teenagers who participated in the survey reported that their parents had told them about their past experiences with alcohol and drugs, and 95 percent of participants appreciated that openness. About one-third of teens reported that their parents had not shared any information about their own experiences with substance use, and a majority of those teens said that they would like to talk openly with their parents about it.
(Sources: abcnews.go.com, www.startribune.com)
Labels: alcohol, parental drinking, teen drug use
Teen Drinking May Lead to Unwise Decisions in Adulthood
A new study by the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle suggests that drinking as a teen may lead to poor decision-making as an adult.
Previous research has indicated that teen drinking may interfere with critical brain development. Researchers at UW say that the results of this new study actually suggest that teen alcohol abuse may "rewire" the brain to impair good decision-making in the future.
For the study, the UW research team monitored the behavior of two groups of rats at two different developmental stages. The researchers provided one group of adolescent rats with access to gelatin mixed with alcohol for 20 days. The other group was provided nonalcoholic gelatin treats for the same amount of time.
Three weeks later, when the rats were considered adults, they were given two choices: push a lever that always spits out two sugary treats, or push another one that may give them four yummy pellets -- or none at all.
The rats who consumed alcoholic gelatin in adolescence were more likely to make the risky decision by pressing the lever that may not give them anything at all, whereas the rats who consumed the non-alcoholic gelatin were more likely to choose the lever that routinely delivered treats.
The rats were tested again three months later - well into adulthood - and their behaviors were virtually the same.
(Source: www.webmd.com)
Labels: alcohol, drinking
Dads Need to Talk to Kids about Drugs and Alcohol
According to a new national survey, a significant percentage of dads would rather leave drug education to moms and schools. The survey, conducted by the non-profit Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the MetLife Foundation, found that 34 percent of fathers felt that drug education should take place in schools, compared to 10 percent of mothers.
Shelly Mowry, director of programs and communication for the Arizona affiliate of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, commented on the findings: "Moms really do take the lead when it comes to talking to kids about drugs. ... Parents need to have a united front in this effort. I think a lot of times dads just kind of think, 'She's going to take care of it.' Sometimes they're afraid of the delicate subjects like sex and drugs."
The study, which included responses from 1,004 parents of children in fourth grade through high school, identified one reason that dads may prefer to let mom or the school talk to kids about drugs: dads participating in the study placed a higher value on being friends with their children than did mothers (59 percent of dads versus 51 percent of mothers). In addition, 18 percent of fathers reported difficulty enforcing rules about substance use, compared with only 10 percent of mothers.
Ms. Mowry's advice to parents: "Be the parent, not the pal. ... Especially in those preteen years - 11, 12, 13 - kids need clear and consistent boundaries."
(Source: www.azcentral.com)
Labels: alcohol, communication, dads, drugs, fathers, talking
Teen Drug and Alcohol Use Linked to Paternal Drinking
A new study indicates that teen alcohol and drug use may be linked to the drinking habits of fathers. The study, conducted by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 20 percent of youth whose fathers did not drink in the past year consumed alcoholic beverages, compared to one in three youth whose dads drank in moderation. In addition, the study showed that four out of 10 youth whose fathers abused alcohol had drinks within the past year, and about one in four of those teens also reported using a drug in the past year. The study also showed a correlation between increased paternal alcohol use and higher rates of binge drinking, alcohol abuse, and drug use among youth. The national survey included data collected on 11,056 fathers and 9,537 father-child pairs between 2002 and 2007.
(Source: www.redorbit.com)
Labels: alcohol, parents, paternal drinking, teen drug use
Ohio State Law Prohibits Parents from Serving Alcohol to Minors
Most people are aware that alcohol consumption by youth under the age of 21 is prohibited - in public places. But many do not know that it is also illegal for any adult to serve alcohol to a minor (other than his or her own child), even in the adult's own home, even with the minor parent's consent. At least it's illegal according to Ohio state law, and most other states have similar legislation.
Many adults operate under the incorrect assumption that what they do in the privacy of their own homes is their own business. This is a dangerous assumption for all involved. In a recent national survey of parents and teens by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, one in three teens reported being at a party where teens were drinking, smoking pot, or using cocaine, ecstasy, or prescription drugs while a parent was present. Adults who knowingly give alcohol or illegal substances or participate in a party where they know alcohol and/or drugs are being consumed can be criminally prosecuted and also sued if something happens to a minor at the party.
(Source: www.blog.cleveland.com)
Labels: alcohol, law, minors, parents
Liquor Companies Aim Products at Youngsters
Researchers from Dartmouth University found that liquor advertisements and products aimed at young people might be doing a good job of selling alcohol beverages to underage drinkers.
The study looked at 6,522 people ages 10 to 14, beginning in 2003, and then followed up on them every eight months. Many brought clothing with alcohol brands on them. About 64% owned T-shirts and 24% had hats with brand names. In 75% of the cases, the brand-name product was beer. Young people who owned such items were more likely to experiment with drinking.
This study appears in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.
Labels: alcohol, influences, marketing
Drinking "A Real Issue" for College Students
Colby College hosted a speaker this week on the topic of college drinking. Robert Dana, vice president for student affairs at University of Maine at Orono, travels across the country speaking on the topic of alcohol abuse on college campuses. Dana commented, "I think alcohol and college students is a real problem everywhere. ... It's a societal problem. ... If we're going to effectively address it, we have to do something about it."
Dana believes that the problem is not easily solvable and requires collaboration by students, staff, law enforcement, substance-abuse professionals, and others. "You can't take a tremendously complicated public-health problem and wink and nod it away; you've got to embrace it."
The April 12th arrest of two intoxicated Colby students for assault and trespassing brought the issue of student drinking to the forefront. The college has instituted policies and procedures over the last several years which have resulted in decreasing numbers of alcohol-related arrests. Dana believes that talking, thinking, and acting on the issue are important for all colleges because alcohol and substance abuse extend far beyond the campus. "It allows us to be always engaging the subject, which is a major public health crisis in this country. The reality is, there are all sorts of things that cause substance-abuse problems, and we're living in a substance-abusing culture."
(Source: www.morningsentinel.mainetoday.com)
Labels: alcohol, college-drinking, drinking, students
April Is Alcohol Awareness Month
The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has designated April as Alcohol Awareness Month. The designation is an effort to recognize the serious problem of alcohol abuse in the United States, and raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse.
According to SAMHSA, alcohol abuse affects Americans in many different demographics, including "college students who binge drink at local bars; pregnant women who drink and put their babies at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome; professionals who drink after a long day of work; and senior citizens who drink out of loneliness."
SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) indicates that in 2007, nearly one in four individuals age 12 and older participated in binge drinking at least once during the 30 days prior to the survey. This means that approximately 57.8 million people participated in this dangerous behavior. (Source: ncadi.samhsa.gov)
Labels: alcohol, awareness
New York Town Uses Stickers to Raise Alcohol Awareness
Medina, New York, is implementing a new program using orange stickers to help raise awareness of underage access to alcohol. Drug-Free Communities Coordinator, Kaitlin Smith for Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, explains the project: "Project Sticker Shock is a community awareness campaign intended to address youth access to alcohol and community norms that support not providing alcohol to minors. ... It is used to help remind store clerks, as well as adults purchasing alcohol, that providing alcohol to youth that are under the age of 21 is illegal. This project unites youth, alcohol retailers, teachers, parents, media and community members in striving for a common goal."
A small group of high school students and a teacher spent several hours this week visiting local alcohol retailers and applying over 3,000 stickers to alcoholic beverage containers. (Source: journalregister.com)
Labels: alcohol, awareness, underage-drinking
Many Washington State Students Regularly Use Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs
According to the Healthy Youth Survey, a survey taken every two years by students in Washington State, many youth are still regularly using alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Approximately 20 percent of 10th graders reported having five or more drinks in a row (binge drinking) at least once in the past two weeks, and about 10 percent of 10th and 12th grade students reported using a prescription painkiller to get high.
Another interesting finding of the study included the fact that 41 percent of 8th graders who drink reported getting alcohol from home, and 24 percent said that their parents have not talked to them about alcohol and associated risks.
Approximately 210,000 students participated in this year's survey. Washington State Secretary of Health Mary Selecky commented on the findings, "This survey is a snapshot of what's going on with youth in our state. ... We're working hard to help kids make the right choices for their health. When they develop healthy habits early in life it provides an excellent foundation as they become adults."
Labels: alcohol, drugs, tobacco
