A study published last month by the French university CNRS/Université de Poitiers indicates that environmental factors play a large role in the successful treatment of addiction. Specifically, the study found that "positive and stimulating environmental conditions" improved the success rate for treating cocaine addiction and preventing relapse in laboratory rats. Researchers found that exposing the animals to an environment which encouraged physical and social activity, allowed exploration, and stimulated their curiosity during cocaine withdrawal minimized abnormal behavior related to addiction. (Source: ScienceDaily.com)

Labels: addiction, treatment, medications

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A recent study by Nationwide Children's Hospital found that adolescents whose parents are smokers are more impulsive - a quality that they share with their parents. Impulsivity, which is related to a need for instant gratification, may be an influencing factor in the decision to become a smoker.

The study found that mothers who smoke and their children were consistently more likely to choose an immediate, discounted reward, over a delayed full reward than were non-smoking mothers and their children. The study collected information from 60 participants in an Ohio community. Brady Reynolds, PhD, lead author and principal investigator of the study, who is with the Center for Biobehavioral Health of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, commented on the implications of these finding for smoking prevention efforts:

"Our study is significant in that it indicates most adolescent smokers, or children at risk of smoking, respond to more immediate consequences when making choices ... Therefore, prevention programs that stress the long-term negative effects of smoking are going to be less effective for those adolescents most at risk of smoking. Also, cessation programs focused on long-term outcomes will likely be less effective for adolescent smokers attempting to quit."

(Source: ScienceDaily.com)

Labels: parents, risky_behaviors, smokers

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A large study of teenagers found that their four social systems - family, school, neighborhood and peers - influence whether they abuse alcohol.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina and the University of California surveyed 6,544 students every six months from grades 6 to 8 through grades 8 to 10. They found that the four systems interact to influence a young person's choices about using alcohol. For example, if parents carefully supervised their pre-teen, the child was less likely to follow the examples of peers who drank. However, if parents abused alcohol or if there were conflicts in the family, the child was more likely to drink with peers.

The more often that teens observed someone in their networks drinking, the more likely they were to follow suit.

This study appeared in the journal Child Development.

Labels: peer-pressure, underage_drinking, social_system

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Voters in Switzerland approved a measure allowing addicts to obtain heroin every day from government clinics. However, they voted down the legalization of marijuana.

The United States and the United Nations criticized the 14-year-old Swiss program that gives away heroin at 23 centers across that country, claiming that the effort encourages drug abuse. However, advocates of the program successfully argued that the measure has reduced crime, improved the lives of addicts, and stopped drug users from injecting the drug in public places.

Labels: addiction, heroin

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Can drinking as a teenager raise your tolerance for alcohol as an adult? A study from Baylor University found that, in animals at least, the answer to this question is "yes."

Researchers found that rats that had been exposed to moderate levels of alcohol in adolescence had higher tolerances five years later.

Author Dr. Douglas Matthews said, "The body and brain are still developing and this shows that even moderate levels of alcohol can have harmful effects."

The study was published in the journal Alcohol.

Labels: alcohol, adults, tolerance

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The most recent edition of the annual "Monitoring the Future" survey from the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that teens are drinking and smoking less, but abusing more prescription painkillers, stimulants, and marijuana.

According to the CASA report, smoking and drinking has been on a steady decline since 1997. For example, the percentage of 12th graders who drink alcohol decreased from 19 percent to 11 percent; among 10th graders, the drinking prevalence decreased from 43 percent to 29 percent.

However, more teenagers are using prescription drugs, especially painkillers OxyContin and Vicodin, and stimulants Ritalin and Adderall. The number of prescriptions written for these drugs has doubled in the past ten years.

The annual survey, which was conducted by the University of Michigan, analyzed data on 46,000 students in grades eight to 12.

Labels: abuse, prescription_drugs

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The Substance Abuse Policy Research Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently funded a study on the effects alcohol taxes have on alcohol-related deaths. The results have proved surprising.

"In the first study of its kind to directly measure the effect of state alcohol tax changes on deaths from alcohol-related diseases, researchers found that raising alcohol taxes had two to four times the impact of other common prevention efforts such as school programs or media campaigns."

Researchers studied tax increase impacts in the state of Alaska, which is the first state to impose significant increases. During the years in which tax increases were implemented - 1983 and 2002 - Alaska saw 29 percent and 11 percent drops (respectively) in alcohol-related deaths. Source: Science Daily

Labels: death, alcohol_sales, taxes

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Doctors often do not bring up important issues such as substance abuse and safety with their teenaged patients, according to a report in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Dr. Sally Adams and her colleagues at the University of California in San Francisco surveyed 2,192 people ages 12 to 17 years old who had undergone health examinations within the last six months. About 76 percent of physicians discussed nutrition and exercise with the young patients, but only 30 percent talked about substance abuse. Fewer still discussed safety issues such as seatbelts, helmets or violence.

Dr. Adams said that national health care guidelines suggest that doctors provide screening and information about high-risk behaviors.

"If teenagers can get preventive care to avoid risky behaviors, "she said, "it may impact their health not only in adolescence but also throughout their lifetimes."

Labels: communication, patients, pediatricians

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Adolescents who drink or use drugs before they turn 15 are more likely to fail in school, become dependent on drugs or alcohol, be convicted of a crime, contract a sexually transmitted disease, and face an unwanted pregnancy. This is true whether they come from "good" homes or abusive ones.

Duke University psychologists Dr. Avshalom Caspi and Terri Moffitt worked with colleagues in New Zealand and Britain to analyze data on 1,000 New Zealanders from birth through age 32. Half of the subjects in the study were from stable backgrounds, and half came from families with histories of alcoholism, drug abuse, and crime. The study focused on preteens who regularly abused drug or alcohol, not those who were merely experimenting a few times.

The ones without risk factors who used drugs and alcohol prior to age 15 were 3.6 times more likely to be drug dependent by age 32. A third of the females in this group were pregnant before age 21.

Among the girls from problematical backgrounds who used drugs and alcohol before age 15, two-thirds got pregnant before age 21.

Both groups had more health problems as adults.

"These findings challenge certain perceptions regarding teens and drug and alcohol use," said Professor Dan Nagin, one of the study's co-authors. "For example, the idea that we shouldn't be concerned when teens abuse drugs and alcohol, because the kids are just experimenting. It's clear from this data that early exposure to drugs and alcohol can make even a good kid veer off on a bad trajectory."

The study appeared in the journal Psychological Science.

Labels: teen_drug_use, underage_drinking, long_term_drug_use

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University of Texas researchers are trying to isolate brain differences in preteens that put may them at risk for future alcoholism and depression.

Dr. Douglas Williamson and his colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science Center are performing brain scans on 300 San Antonio children between the ages 12 to 15. Some of the children are at high risk for depression, and their tests may indicate increased sensitivity to events in their lives, and to fear and anger.

Williamson's team will follow these preteens for several years, and will collect data on their DNA and life styles. The researchers are hoping that early intervention with high-risk preteens will prevent later problems.

Besides depression, other risk factors for alcoholism are aggression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, anti-social behavior, conduct disorder, and weak social relationships.

Labels: alcoholism, depression

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A mid-October investigation at Farmington (Michigan) High School uncovered illegal use of prescription drugs by at least 10 students. The investigation was prompted by a concerned parent who called the high school administration.

The juvenile department is dealing with the legal aspects of the investigation. As for the school disciplining the students, the high school administration is only allowed to hand out up to 10 days of suspension.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that prescription drug use in students ages 12- to 17-years-old increased by more than 200 percent between 1992 and 2003. Source: Daily Journal (MI)

Labels: schools, parental_involvement

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Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal and dangerous. Every parent and teenager knows that. The statistics are easy to find, as are the tragic stories of teenagers who were killed or who caused the deaths of others because they were driving while intoxicated or high.

But what many parents may not know is just how much influence they can have over their teenager's behaviors, including issues of drinking and driving.

A study conducted by Liberty Mutual and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) found that teens whose parents set clear driving expectations and consequences were far less likely to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Of the teens that have never driven under the influence of drugs or alcohol, 78 percent say their parents follow through on consequences when driving rules are broken.

The media often paints a picture of teenagers as outright rebellious people who are going do the exact opposite of what you ask, simply as a way of exerting their independence. But that picture is wholly inaccurate. While teens do want increased independence, and are more likely to take risks, they also historically have respected and obeyed rules set by parents who adhere to consequences for broken rules. Numerous studies and discussions with teenagers have found that teens who have good relationships and open communication with their parents are more influenced by their parents than their peers.

Consider these statistics from SADD's website:

"Teens whose parents establish clear consequences for breaking family driving rules are less likely to drive with three or more passengers in a car (36 percent vs. 42 percent) or eat or drink while driving (31 percent vs. 40 percent) than are their counterparts who do not have any clear consequences set.

Teens say parents who set expectations with clear consequences for them about breaking the law while driving are less likely to have driven under the influence of alcohol (16 percent vs. 29 percent), marijuana (14 percent vs. 18 percent) or other drugs (6 percent vs. 11 percent) than are teens whose parents do not set an consequences."

Studies have also shown that a parent's own behavior while behind the wheel goes a long way in affecting the driving behavior of a teenage child. Not only do children notice their parent's behavior when they're in the car, they take behavioral cues from conversations as well. So a parent's own attitudes about driving (including driving under the influence) will affect the decisions a child makes. If a teen hears his mom off-handedly remark that she "only had one drink" before driving home, he's likely to translate that into "then it's ok if I drive, too, after having one or two drinks."

Other forms of risky driving by parents can also affect a teen's behavior behind the wheel. A parent may not drink and drive, but he or she may speed, drive without a seatbelt, or eat while driving. These types of behaviors communicate to teens that risk-taking, as it relates to driving, is acceptable, which may be all he or she needs to justify driving under the influence.

In light of all this information, parents who are concerned that their teenage children might drink and then get behind the wheel of a car should focus on three things: 1) developing a healthy relationship with their child that includes open, honest communication; 2) setting and following through on driving rules and consequences; and 3) their own attitudes and behaviors about driving. While these steps won't guarantee that teens won't drink and drive, the chances are greatly reduced.

Labels: dui, underage_drinking, drunk driving

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Almost 10 years ago, Professor Suniya Luthar published a surprising study of teen drug use. He found that suburban teens abused drugs and alcohol in significantly higher amounts than did city youth. Among girls, 46 percent of the suburbanites admitted using an illicit drug at least once in the past year, compared to 26 percent of girls from homes in the inner city. Among boys, the rates were 59 percent of suburbanites compared to 33 percent of urbanites.

Professor Luthar found that some suburban teens had abnormally high levels of anxiety, which he blamed partly on pressure from parents and teachers. One in five suburban girls were clinically depressed, compared to only 5 percent of urban boys.

Fast-forward to 2008, when the Partnership for a Drug-Free America included a new category of answer in their annual drug tracking survey. Before 2008, teens could check these reasons to use drugs: "To feel cool," "To feel better about myself," and "To have fun." In 2008, a new answer was added, "To deal with school stress."

To the surprise of everyone but Professor Luthar, 73 percent answered, "To deal with school stress," making that the top answer. Only 7 percent of parents, however, believed that was a reason to use drugs.

Many experts believe that American teens are under too much pressure. Junior year in high school is particularly grueling as students scramble to impress colleges. One boy told the Boston Globe, "I've been tired the entire year." He and others described days going to basketball practice, Habitat for Humanity, SAT preparation classes, drama rehearsals, cello lessons, and then spending evenings writing college applications and doing four hours of homework. Many juniors get along on fewer than five hours of sleep a night.

The number of college applications keeps increasing, partly because the process is becoming increasingly computerized. In 2008, Harvard University rejected 91 percent of 23,000 applicants, a new record. The competition is beyond fierce, putting kids at risk for using stimulants in the day and sleeping pills at night, and drinking hard on the weekends. Many are so wound-up that they experiment with very powerful opiates, usually prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and Fentanyl.

There are increasing signs of a quiet revolution against such pressure on students. Many major universities no longer use SAT scores. Some high schools, such as Needham High School in Massachusetts, have instituted stress reduction committees, yoga classes, and relaxation training.

Many parents try to get their child to slow down, but he won't listen. This is often the case if the teen is in a school with high academic standards and classes full of future Harvard alums that take five AP classes and maintain 5.0 grade point averages.

One thing you can do is to stop comparing notes with other parents. When asked what colleges your child is applying to, be vague and say, "We're looking at a lot of alternatives." Have your son concentrate on one or two activities that he is passionate about, and drop the less interesting ones. Encourage your daughter to take a course for fun or as a way to explore a new interest or career.

Finally, learn the signs of drug and alcohol abuse. Research has shown that teens who abuse substances in high school carry those habits over into their college years.

Labels: drug use, schools, stress

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Minnesota-based Partners in Prevention has chosen a Wisconsin city for a new program that is attempting to battle underage drinking by focusing on parents.

"The main focus of the grant project is starting a parent mentoring group in Edgerton that will help parents create positive experiences for children, making them less tempted to drink."

The program centers around the building of "developmental assets" that have been proven to reduce the risk of teen alcohol use. These assets include family support, adult role models, and creative activities. Parents who participate will meet one-on-one with a mentor who will help them to implement these developmental assets. Source: Gazette Xtra (Janesville, WI)

Labels: parental_involvement, underage drinking, role_models

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