Many parents experience anxiety when their teen first gets his or her driver's license. What many of these parents don't realize is that they should be very anxious indeed. As a parent of an underage driver, you could be liable for mistakes your teen makes while driving. If your teen is in an accident where someone in his car (or another car) is injured, you might discover that you are at great financial risk, especially if you had previous knowledge that your teen has an issue with alcohol or drugs and did not take steps to intervene in your teen's behavior.

Read more about parental liability for underage driving.

Labels: drunk driving, dui, teenage_drinking, underage drinking

As of 2005, approximately 1.8 million people annually were seeking treatment for substance and/or alcohol abuse. Any one of those people can attest to how difficult it is to recovery from an addiction. A substance abuse counselor can play a vital role in a person's recovery.

"The substance abuse counselor is there to help you get through the period of coming off the substance and getting better... Many people are reluctant to talk to a counselor because it makes them feel weak or that the counselor is there to make too much out of nothing."

On the contrary, substance abuse counselors are there to listen, and to help people discover the reasons behind their addictions – a necessary step on the road to recovery. Read more at SubstanceAbuseSupport.com.

Labels: counseling, therapy, treatment

In response to a request from Florida Governor Charlie Crist for proposed budget cuts, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement suggested eliminating the over $300,000 that is currently spent on the state's DARE program. FDLE officials cited studies which have found the program to be ineffective.

"The office cited a 2003 U.S. Government Accountability Office analysis of several DARE studies, which concluded the program had 'no statistically significant long-term effect on preventing illicit drug use.' The U.S. Department of Education and surgeon general also have found DARE to be ineffective."

If Florida cuts its DARE program it will join states such as Illinois, California, Michigan, Washington and Wisconsin which have made similar cuts. Read more at HighTimes.com.

Wondering how you can help prevent teen drug addiction? Visit DrugRehabTreatment.com to learn more.

Labels: cost_of_addiction, criminal_justice, prevention

A recent survey conducted by national polling firm RT Strategies found that just 6% of parents are concerned about their kids abusing prescription medication. The finding was alarming, in light of other studies that have shown a dramatic increase in abuse of prescription drugs among teenagers.

"'We must raise awareness of these drug trends so parents realize that talking to their kids about drug abuse and prevention before heading back to school is on par with buying school supplies - both are necessary and will lay the foundation for a successful and healthy school year,' continued [Debbie] Moak."

The study also found that, though 80% of parents deny that prescription drugs are easily accessible in their home, over 10% of kids aged 12 to 17 have taken prescription drugs from a family member or friends' home. Read more at EMaxHealth.com.

Excel Academy offers programs for troubled teens that combine therapy and academics to help teenagers turn their lives around.

Labels: communication, parents, prescription_drugs

The pharmaceutical company Reckitt Benckiser has announced that is has launched Addiction411; the first-ever MySpace account developed to educate people about the dangers of opioid dependence. The site offers information about treatment options, addiction red flags, and more.

"Addiction411 is the first time that MySpace members will have direct access to information about this increasingly prevalent disease and practical guidance on how to find treatment."

The World Health Organization and the National Institute for Drug Abuse both recognize opioid dependence as a chronic brain disease. Read more online.

NorthStar Center is a substance abuse treatment center located in Bend, Oregon that caters to the needs of young adults.

Labels: information, internet, support

On August 15th, parents, teens, health care professionals, and city officials will come together in East Brunswick, New Jersey to discuss the dangerous trend of prescription medication abuse among teens. The purpose is to educate and raise awareness of the problem.

"More importantly, we aim to identify solutions and strategies to address this issue. Audience members will be encouraged to join in the dialogue with questions and ideas."

State Senator Barbara Buono will serve as moderator. Read more at THNT.com.

Dealing with teen drug abuse? You don't have to go through it alone. Learn how to get help at DrugRehabTreament.com.

Labels: abuse, awareness, prescription_drugs

At least two federal agencies have been warned that Afghan heroin is making its way into Canada with increasing frequency and that it poses a direct public threat. The RCMP's Ottawa drug branch Director, Paul Nadeau, says that about 60 percent of the heroin that's currently on Canadian streets comes from Afghanistan.

"Afghan heroin typically flows into Canada through two main trafficking arteries, Mr. Nadeau said: the porous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and then onto India and, finally, Canada; or from Afghanistan to western Africa, then through the United States into Canada."

Currently about 92 percent of the world's heroin comes from poppies grown in Afghanistan. Read more at TheGlobeandMail.com.

High school boarding schools may help keep your child out of trouble by offering a structured environment. Oakley School also includes therapy and counseling.

Labels: awareness, heroin, rise_in_use

In response to its recent findings in its annual Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS), Partnership for a Drug-free America has launched the Time to Talk ™ Campaign and web site. Both are intended to equip, empower, and encourage parents in their efforts discuss the dangers of drug and alcohol use with their teens.

TimeToTalk.org offers parents manageable resources to help them feel empowered to speak with their kids about living healthy lives and to motivate constant communication among family members. The new web resource not only helps parents start the conversation, but encourages them to sustain it over time by providing easy-to-use tools, tips, information and support to help parents feel much more at ease.

Studies have shown that kids who learn about the risks of drugs and alcohol are 50 percent less like to experiment with substance use. Read more at MedicalNewsToday.com.

Teen-Help-Directory.com offers information about teen drug and alcohol abuse. Learn more today.

Labels: communication, parents, prevention

Partnership for a Drug-free America just released the results of its 2006 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) which analyzes parental and teen attitudes towards drugs and alcohol. The study revealed a 12% decline in frequent conversations about drugs and alcohol between parents and teens.

"Only half of parents, 54 percent, reported thoroughly discussing the use of drugs like heroin, cocaine and crack with their kids. Even more concerning is that a mere 36 percent of parents reported having in-depth conversations about abuse of prescription medications and only 33 percent have thoroughly discussed abuse of OTC [over-the-counter] cough and cold medicines with their teens."

The study revealed that many parents don't fully understand the dangers of prescription and OTC medications. In addition, parents are uncertain about how to initiate conversations with their teens and what to say. In response to these findings, Partnership for a Drug-free America has launched the Time to Talk™ Campaign; a web site designed to equip, encourage, and empower parents to have productive, consistent conversations with their kids about drugs and alcohol. Read more at MedicalNewsToday.com.

Unsure of how talk to your teen? ByParents-ForParents.com offers help for parents of troubled teenagers.

Labels: communication, influences, prevention

Five Iowa communities have been awarded federal grants for Drug Free Communities Support Programs. Rep. Dave Loebsack announced that the Mid-Eastern Council on Chemical Abuse in Iowa City received one of the grants.

"'This funding will allow these valuable programs to better protect the health and safety of our children,' said Loesback. 'The Drug Free Community Program uses a successful community wide approach to prevent youth alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug, and inhalant abuse.'"

The grants will be used to implement drug free community coalitions. Read more at Press-Citizen.com.

Troubled teenaged girls can benefit from the structured environment of a private all girls boarding school or a girls residential treatment center. Learn more about Copper Canyon Academy.

Labels: community_programs, federal_grants, prevention

On Thursday, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that insurance companies must cover drug and alcohol treatment costs for policy holders who were referred by a doctor or psychologists. The ruling solidifies a 1989 state law which required insurance companies to cover these types of treatment services.

"Aetna, Independence Blue Cross, the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania and other managed care groups sued the state Insurance Department, arguing that insurers should be allowed to review drug and alcohol treatment referrals to keep costs down and make sure treatment is appropriate."

The court, however, determined that treatment which is prescribed by a doctor or psychologist needs no review. Some argue that this ruling will drive up health care costs, while others call it a 'life-saving law'. Read more at HeraldStandard.com.

A residential drug treatment center can help your teen overcome their addiction and get their life on track. SunHawk Academy helps teens in crisis.

Labels: insurance, rehab, treatment

Inhalant abuse is often overlooked, despite the fact that nearly 20 percent of young people have experimented with them at least once by the time they're in eighth grade. Inhalant abuse involves breathing in the fumes from a substance such as glue, solvents, fuel, Freon, or paint thinners.

"Use of these chemicals can produce a euphoric feeling similar to that experienced with other illicit drugs. The effects of the inhalant are intensified when breathing from a closed bag."

Though the long-term damage caused by huffing isn't known, the short-term damage is easy to determine. Some speculate that long-term exposure causes brain damage, and damage to the central nervous system. Read more at BentonEveningNews.com.

Private boarding schools offer a structured environment for kids who may find themselves with too much free time on their hands. Find one at BoardingSchoolsInfo.com.

Labels: drug_abuse, experimentation, middle_school

In March, South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds signed legislation enabling the creation of a drug court pilot program for Meade County. Now that court is preparing to take its first cases.

"[Fourth Circuit Judge Jerome] Eckrich said the program works on two basic assumptions - the district has to accept that there is a substance abuse problem in the area and that the underlying problem of addiction must be resolved to reduce the rate of relapse."

The program is essentially an intense intervention on behalf of the substance abuser. A probation officer will closely monitor the participant's life, including who the person spends time with. At the same time, an individualized treatment plan in put into place. Read more at ZWire.com.

Adolescent substance abuse is an alarming problem in this country. Teen-Help-Directory.com offers treatment programs and information about adolescent substance abuse.

Labels: courts, recovery, relapse

Kendall County, Illinois seems to be a popular shopping ground for the ingredients needed to make methamphetamine. Production of the drug itself is almost nonexistent in the county.

"Kendall County Farm Bureau manager Dan Reedy said that one of the main reasons Kendall County is a shopping ground is access to a key substance. 'Anhydrous ammonia is one of the main ingredients for making meth and the easiest place to get anhydrous ammonia is through swiping anhydrous tanks either on the farms or from the local fertilizer dealers,' he said."

The Kendall County Methamphetamine Task Force has been working to educate farmers on proper storage of the tanks so they can't be tampered with or stolen.

Read more at LedgerSentinel.com.

Labels: awareness, meth, prevention

Ashley Stanley doesn't blame her drug addiction on the fact that she was raised in a high-pressure suburban environment. Nor does she blame the loss of her childhood dream of being a soccer star. She says the reasons for her addiction are much more complex.

"But Ken and Caren readily admit they didn't want to see what was going wrong with their daughter as she struggled toward adulthood. Back then, the signs of trouble were too easy to rationalize, said the Stanleys."

The signs became impossible to ignore when Ashley, on a visit home from New York, broke down and told her father 'I need help.' She's been to rehab twice, admitting that she wasn't really ready to recover the first time. The second time, she agreed to on-going treatment and has since begun speaking publicly about her treatment, in an effort to raise awareness. Read more at MentalHopeNews.blogspot.com.

Learn more about the signs of teenage drug addiction and abuse at Adolescent-Substance-Abuse.com.

Labels: parents, signs, treatment