Teen Drug Help
Study Suggests Link Between Secondhand Smoke and Poor High School Test Scores
A new study appearing in the Journal of Adolescent Health suggests that teens exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) may be at increased risk for failing tests at school. Lead author Bradley Collins, Ph.D., assistant professor of public health and director of the Health Behavior Research Clinic at Temple University, commented on the study's findings: "Our retrospective study suggests that in adolescents, secondhand smoke exposure could interfere with academic test performance."
Researchers found that exposure to SHS at home decreased the odds of passing standardized achievement tests by 30 percent in 16- and 18-year-olds, after accounting for other known risk factors such as socioeconomic status, gender, prenatal exposure to smoking and active smoking during adolescence.
According to study authors, smoking prevalence is similar in the United Kingdom and the United States. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of women of childbearing age are smokers, and up to 60 percent of children may be exposed to smoke at home.
Dr. Collins commented on parental responsibility: "It's important that we help smoking parents learn how to reduce their children's exposure to secondhand smoke, a goal that can be achieved without requiring the parent to immediately quit smoking, although that's the ultimate goal for the health of the entire family."
(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)
Labels: second hand smoke, testing
Steroid Tests Don't Net Many Teens
State testing programs that try to catch teenagers using steroids appear to be losing steam. Results from tests in four states found that just 18 tests out of more than 30,000 (one half of one percent) came back positive.
"Testing advocates argue that results from the four states show the program works as a deterrent. Critics say they show the flaws in how the tests were conducted. Either way, it's becoming harder amid a recession to justify spending up to $200 each on tests that rarely catch cheaters."
The programs were a response to the doping scandals that have plagued professional athletes in recent years. However, even proponents of the testing programs acknowledge the existence of flaws, such as the absence of testing during the summer months. Source: WFMY News2 (NC)
Labels: steriods, testing
Colorado Company Reveals New Way to Test Teens for Drugs
A Colorado company is marketing a new way to for parents to find out if teens are using drugs. The company has developed a "wipe and spray" method. A parent takes a test strip and wipes it on something commonly touched by the teenager; then a spray solution is applied to the strip. Results are ready within seconds, and the test is supposed to be 99 percent accurate.
Although the company believes the product can be useful to parents, president Troy Sievers says the key to testing your children for drugs is having an open relationship with them. "The key to drug testing and drug awareness and all the things we have to offer is communication between parents and their children," he said. "Because, without a good base of communication, nobody's gonna get what they need." (Source: www.kjct8.com)
Labels: drug-use, parents, testing
