Teen Drug Help
American Teens Think Smoking More Risky than Drugs, Alcohol
According to a new national study, American teenagers believe that smoking cigarettes is riskier than consuming alcohol or using illicit drugs. The study, conducted by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), included survey responses from 44,979 adolescents, aged 12-17, who took part in the 2007 and 2008 SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Study authors expressed concerns that teens may be more likely to experiment with alcohol or illegal substances if they believe that the risks associated with using drugs and alcohol are low. Pamela S. Hyde, SAMHSA administrator, said in a news release:
"We are on the right track with cigarette smoking and need to keep raising awareness among teens about the dangers of other substances. Understanding that perception of harm is a strong predictor of potential substance use among young people can help guide the development of substance prevention messages."
SAMHSA researchers found that perception of risk relating to cigarettes was fairly constant among all respondents. However, perception of risk with regard to alcohol and other substances varied widely by age and gender. For example, more than two-thirds (70 percent) of respondents believed smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day to be a major health risk. By contrast, only 40 percent of respondents believed binge-drinking (consuming five or more drinks at a time once or twice per week) posed a major health risk.
(Source: businessweek.com)
Labels: cigarettes, teen smoking, teen substance abuse
Drinking Among Young Teens Declining in England, But Still a Concern
Recent data from England's National Health Service (NHS) suggest that drinking among young teens is on the decline, and that English teens are generally less likely to abuse substances than their counterparts worldwide. However, experts warn that continued vigilance against underage drinking is needed.
According to the data, which included school surveys from over 8,000 children over three years, young teens in the Northeast reported drinking the most (about six pints of strong beer or two bottles of wine) per week, while young teens in London reported consuming about two-thirds that amount. Overall, the data suggest that the total number of youth regularly consuming alcohol is declining.
Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians, commented on the reported levels of drinking: "Regular consumption at these levels, especially when compressed into heavy sessions at the weekend puts boys and girls at considerable risk. This extends beyond the usual considerations around accidents and injury through violence. At this age the adolescent mind is still developing, and for an unlucky minority heavy drinking so early will have profound and long lasting implications for their learning and problem solving skills."
(Source: www.timesonline.co.uk)
Labels: teen drinking, teen substance abuse, underage-drinking
Teens Launch Texting Service to Help Peers Say 'No'
Teens in Medford, Mass., have launched a service which utilizes text-messaging to help peers say "no" to using drugs and alcohol. The program, dubbed "I'm Allergic to Stupid Decisions," is being implemented by a local youth organization call Teens Against Drinking and Drugs (TADD).
Teens in need of assistance send a text to a special number. Within minutes, they will receive a reply with one of three pieces of information: an excuse to help them refuse a drink, a fact on underage drinking, or a sharp retort that suggests an alternative to drugs or alcohol.
Approximately 130 teens have utilized the service so far, receiving over 1,000 texts, according to the program advisor, Gisela Rots. Rots commented, "We want people to know that most youths DON'T drink, and that sometimes they just need to know there are more youth like them. We hope that youth will begin using it at anytime they need it."
(Source: www.boston.com)
Labels: teen substance abuse
West Virginia Juvenile Drug Court Helps Teens Make Life Changes
Mercer County, W. Va., is tackling adult crime by working with youthful offenders to keep them out of detention and get them the substance abuse counseling they need.
The court, which works with non-violent offenders from ages 10 to 17, is founded on the idea that helping offending teens to stop using substances will prevent the teens from committing future crimes, especially drug-related crimes. In order to participate in the teen drug court, youthful offenders must have a documented history of substance use or abuse.
The teen drug court coordinator and treatment team review the youth's history to ensure that the youth has not committed a violent crime. Youthful defendants who are given the opportunity to participate in the program are required to plead guilty to their non-violent, drug-related offenses and agree to face time in a correctional facility if they do not successfully complete the requirements of the program.
These requirements include regular court appearances, community service projects and mandated substance abuse treatment. Participating teens must also have a parent or guardian who is willing and able to attend required court appearances and counseling with the youth.
Mercer County Family Court Judge Anthony Bisaha commented: "A lot of our crimes, whether they're committed by adults or children, are related to substance abuse. If we stop children sooner, we can stop the crime and save the children, too. We see that we're teaching old dogs new tricks in the adult drug court, so we hope we can teach the young ones a better way of life."
(Source: www.bdtonline.com)
Labels: addiction treatment, drug-abuse, drug-court, teen substance abuse
Prescription Drug Overdoses Surpass Traffic Fatalities in Montana
Montana has seen a drastic increase in prescription drug abuse over the past year. Fatal overdoses related to prescription drugs have surpassed traffic fatalities.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual survey conducted by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Montana ranks third in the nation for teen abuse of prescription pain relievers, with 9.6 percent of respondents reporting abuse within the past year.
According to state authorities, more Montanans die of prescription drug overdoses than any other kind of overdose, including illegal overdoses related to drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Approximately 60 percent of prescription drug abusers in Montana report getting prescriptions free from a friend or relative, while more than 14 percent buy or steal them from a friend or relative.
The state Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation reports that 42 percent of the drug cases this year relate to prescription drugs. This represents a significant increase since 2003, when only 7 percent of cases involved prescription drugs.
State Attorney General Steve Bullock commented on the trend and the state's plans to address the problem, saying, "Given the more than 320 deaths last year, given the fact that we're third per capita in the country for children abusing prescription drugs, and given that this has become one of law enforcement's primary issues, we put together an advisory council to talk about how to better address the issue in Montana's communities."
(Sources: www.kfbb.com, www.missoulan.com)
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, teen substance abuse
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
Teen Attitudes toward Smoking Linked to Risk for Substance Abuse
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College recently published a study exploring the specific ways that parents and peers may influence teens to smoke, drink and use marijuana.
The results of the study indicate that teens' attitudes toward smoking influence their use of multiple drugs (smoking, drinking and marijuana), and that the influence is different between boys and girls. For girls, those with friends who were ambivalent or permissive of smoking were at greatest risk for using multiple substances. For boys, the greatest predictor of use of multiple substances was the extent to which they perceived that smoking was prevalent in their peer group.
Dr. Jennifer A. Epstein, lead author and assistant professor of public health in the Division of Prevention and Health Behavior at Weill Cornell, commented on the study's findings: "If a teenager feels smoking is socially acceptable and widely practiced, they are much more likely not only to smoke, but to also drink and possibly use marijuana ... While the differences between how boys and girls are influenced by these social factors are subtle, they could help us develop new gender-specific educational tactics for preventing these behaviors."
(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)
Labels: marijuana, teen drinking, teen smoking, teen substance abuse
Health Crisis for Staten Island Teens: Substance Abuse Is Rampant
Experts warn that Staten Island teens may be facing a health crisis within the next few years if rates of substance abuse persist.
Recent statistics from the New York City Department of Health show that Staten Island's teen population has the highest rate of smoking, alcohol abuse and drug abuse in the city. According to data from the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, nearly three times as many Staten Islanders ages 13 to 30 sought help last year for prescription drug abuse than four years earlier.
Frances Magno, managing director of a local rehabilitation facility, commented on the care that teens will need if current trends persist: "They are going to need much more sophisticated care ... Kids are kids. They don't believe they have the ability to get illnesses or diseases. Reality doesn't touch them. 'Just say no' doesn't work with these kids."
(Source: www.silive.com)
Labels: prescription-drug-abuse, teen smoking, teen substance abuse
Connecticut Boy Suffers Frostbite, Hospitalized after 'Huffing' Propane
Authorities called to the home of a 13-year-old boy in Canton, Conn., originally thought he was experiencing a severe allergic reaction. They soon realized that he was suffering the effects of huffing propane to get high.
Propane, which exits canisters at approximately 40 degrees below zero, is capable of causing severe injuries when huffed or inhaled to produce a chemical high. As a result of the incident, the Canton teen suffered severe frostbite to his hands, eyes, face, throat and lungs. Frostbite is essentially a severe burn caused by cold rather than heat; as the result of frostbite, human tissue dies and begins to rot.
Other dangers from huffing chemicals can include liver and kidney damage, impaired heart and lung functioning, and instant death.
Buddy Sangalli, director of the Connecticut Poison Control Center at the University of Connecticut, advises parents: "The opportunities are plentiful out there, and you need to have an extra degree of suspicion as to what these substances are doing in the possession of children."
(Source: www.courant.com)
Labels: huffing, teen substance abuse
Teens Who See Parents Drunk Are More Likely to Drink, Use Pot, Smoke Cigarettes
Teens who have seen one or both parents drunk are more than twice as likely to drink, and three times as likely to use pot and smoke cigarettes, according to the results of the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XIV: Teens and Parents.
The survey, conducted by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, found that more than half (51 percent) of 17 year olds have seen one or both parents drunk. About one-third (34 percent) of 12 to 17 year olds have seen one or both parents drunk.
The survey also found that five percent of 12- to 15-year-old girls and nine percent of 12- to 15-year-old boys say their fathers are okay with their drinking. In the 16- to 17-year-old age group, 13 percent of girls and 20 percent of boys reported the same parental attitudes.
Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA's chairman and founder and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, commented on the impact of parental attitudes on teen substance use:
"Some moms' and dads' behavior and attitudes make them parent enablers -- parents who send their 12 to 17 year olds a message that it's okay to smoke, drink, get drunk and use illegal drugs like marijuana. A teens' behavior is strongly associated with their parents' behavior and expectations, so parents who expect their children to drink and use drugs will have children who drink and use drugs."
(Source: PRNewswire.com)
Labels: parental drinking, teen substance abuse
Parents Warned about Increase in Teen Substance Abuse During Summer
Substance abuse counselors and some teens are warning Bloomington, Illinois, parents about an increase in teen drug and alcohol abuse during summer months. According to Alan Markwood, prevention projects coordinator for Chestnut Health Systems, "summer is a time of high initiation [into drugs and alcohol] ... teens have more time on their hands." Counselors warn parents that more leisure time may lead to more alcohol consumption, "pharm parties," and smoking marijuana for some teens. Lisa Fesnot, a local counselor, stated that warning signs of substance abuse vary with the substance, however universal signs include significant behavior changes, avoiding family activities, changes in friends, and breaking curfew.
(Source: www.pantagraph.com)
Labels: summer, teen substance abuse
