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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, underage-drinking, violence, sex

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Teens in the Reno, Nev., area report high levels of suicide, sexual activity and drug use, according to a recent youth risk behavior survey conducted by Washoe County School District officials. The district released the results of the survey this week and called for immediate action by the entire community.

According to the study, the number of students considering suicide is on the rise (from 8.6 percent in 2001 to 14.6 percent in 2009); more than half of the district's students have had sex; and almost one-quarter of students reported coming to class high.

District Board of Trustees President Barbara Clark said at a morning news conference: "Many of our children come to school each day facing challenges to be ready and willing to learn. We want to make sure our parents and community know what our children are facing so we can work on these issues together."

The survey was based on questions created by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and involved a sampling of 1,844 middle school students and 1,727 high school students.

(Source: www.rgj.com)

Labels: sex, drug-use, suicide

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

A new RAND corporation study indicates that school-based drug education programs for adolescents can have long-term positive influence with regard to substance abuse as well as sexual behaviors. Researchers found that teens who received drug abuse prevention programs were less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, even five to seven years later. The study, which is published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health, provides strong evidence that drug abuse prevention programs can also decrease risky sexual behaviors among young people. Phyllis Ellickson, the lead author of the study and a researcher at RAND, a nonprofit research organization, commented: "The lessons these young people learned about how to avoid drug and alcohol abuse appears to have had a positive impact on their sexual behavior as well."

(Sources: www. Sciencedaily.com)

Labels: teen drug use, sex, education

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments