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Michael and Meme are juniors at Vashon High School in Puget Sound, Washington. From their perspective, communication trumps attempted eradication as the key to preventing teen drug use.

"Virtually no community exists today without some kind of substance around, whether it is alcohol, prescription pills, or spray paint. Some grow in our soil, like psychedelic mushrooms, and it is literally impossible to get rid of them. So, as teenagers, we hope that the focus is on communication between two separate entities - teenagers and adults - instead of wasting time trying to eliminate drugs entirely."

Bridging the communication gap between teens and parents gives teens the information they need to make wise decisions. It also builds the type of relationship between parents and teens that gives parents genuine influence in their kids' lives. Source: Vashon Beachcomber

Labels: parental-involvement, communication, relationships

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Young men are more likely than young women to abuse alcohol or other drugs when their romantic relationships go bad, according to a new study from Wake Forest University in North Carolina.

• Dr. Robin Simon studied 1,611 men and women of college age, interviewing them twice in a two year period.
• Both genders reported depression when relationships were troubled.
• Males were more likely to abuse substances at those times.

"Simply being in a relationship may be more important for a woman's identity," said Dr. Simon. "Having a relationship is something that is emphasized constantly for women."

However, the strength of the relationship is helpful to men, and difficult times are particularly hard on them, she said.

"Part of our emotional culture is that men should not feel sad," she said. "While women are free to feel and express emotion, men turned to mood-altering substances to get rid of culturally inappropriate feelings."
 

Labels: binge drinking, relationships, mental health

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