A nationwide survey of over 46,000 high school students found that fewer adolescents and teenagers are using methamphetamines. The survey also found that most kids arent using any drugs at all, NBC has reported:

Use of methamphetamines is down, along with cocaine, cigarettes and alcohol. Theres no increase in teens using LSD, Ecstasy, heroin or "date rape" drugs like GHB and Rohypnol.

One disturbing trend the survey found was an increased belief among teens that marijuana use is safe. There is a similar belief about prescription drug use as well.

Labels: binge drinking, methamphetamine

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A study involving about 13,000 teenagers has revealed that male high school athletes are more likely to become binge drinkers and to get into physical fights.

The researchers also found that boys in team sports are less likely to be depressed or to smoke cigarettes. Female athletes were less likely to smoke or use marijuana.

This study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association.

Labels: binge drinking, depression, athletics

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Gordie Bailey is the subject of a documentary aimed at helping college students understand the dangers of hazing. Bailey, who was 18 years old when he pledged a fraternity at the University of Colorado, died from alcohol poisoning during a fraternity initiation ritual.

The documentary, titled "HAZE," was shown to University of New Hampshire fraternity and sorority members Sept. 23. Student staff writer Mallory Baker reported on the screening in the Sept. 24 edition of the school newspaper:

Gordie Bailey, was a pledge at Chi Psi fraternity at the University of Colorado in Boulder. On Sept. 16, 2004, he was sent into a local forest with his pledge class with orders to finish four handles of whiskey and six bottles of wine in the span of a half hour.

On Sept. 17, he was found dead in the library of the frat house. ...

In one respect, the message of HAZE was quite clear: College campuses nationwide have become both a haven and training ground for binge drinking, which the documentary defines as consuming five drinks in one sitting for men or four drinks in one sitting for women at least once in a period of two weeks.

In fact, according to a variety of alcohol and substance abuse experts interviewed in HAZE, 44 percent of college students in the United States are binge drinkers.

Labels: students, binge drinking, hazing

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In a Sept. 16 commentary on the CNN website, former Middlebury College President John M. McCardell Jr. advocates abolishing the U.S. minimum drinking age of 21 and replacing it with a system that educates teenagers and young adults about the proper use of alcohol, and and then licenses them to drink.

McCardell is the founder and president of Choose Responsibility, a nonprofit organization that describes its purpose as "to stimulate informed and dispassionate public discussion about the presence of alcohol in American culture and to consider policies that will effectively empower young adults age 18 to 20 to make mature decisions about the place of alcohol in their own lives."

The following are excerpts from McCardell's CNN commentary:

A study of binge drinking published in the Journal of the American Medical Association announced that "despite efforts at prevention, the prevalence of binge drinking among college students is continuing to rise, and so are the harms associated with it." ...

Yet, in the face of mounting evidence that those young adults age 18 to 20 toward whom the drinking age law has been directed are routinely -- indeed in life- and health-threatening ways -- violating it, there remains a belief in the land that a minimum drinking age of 21 has been a "success." ...

The principal problem of 2009 is not drunken driving. The principal problem of 2009 is clandestine binge drinking. ...

Alcohol is a reality in the lives of young adults. We can either try to change the reality -- which has been our principal focus since 1984, by imposing Prohibition on young adults 18 to 20 -- or we can create the safest possible environment for the reality.

A drinking age minimum of 21 has not changed the reality. It's time to try something different.

McCardell's thoughts about minimum-age drinking laws, binge drinking by college students, and other matters related to underage drinking first garnered national interest in 2004, when the New York Times published his op-ed piece, "What Your College President Didn't Tell You." McCardell completed "The Effects of the 21 Year-Old Drinking Age: A White Paper" in 2006 and founded Choose Responsibility the following year.

Labels: underage drinking, binge drinking, drinking_age

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The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has issued a 304-page report on drug and alcohol use in 2008. There were few surprises or changes in the rates of use from other years.

• The use of illegal drugs among teenagers has remained about the same since 2005.
  
• Among children ages 12 to 17 years old, 11.6 percent used such drugs in 2002, compared to 9.3 percent in 2008.
  
• Use of prescription drugs for non-medical reasons dropped from 4 percent in 2002 to 2.9 percent in 2008.

However, among people above the age of 12 years, the non-medical use of painkillers is an area of concern, according to the report. About 2.18 million people tried these substances for the first time in 2008.

When it comes to other forms of illicit drug use, marijuana and inhalants remain the most popular choices, SAMHSA reports:

• People under 18 years old tend to use marijuana and inhalants more than other illegal drugs.
  
• The average age of trying these two drugs is about sixteen years old.
  
• The average ages for trying heroin and tranquilizers are 23 and 24 years old, respectively.
  
• People start experimenting with Ecstasy, stimulants, cocaine, and LSD around ages 19 to 20.

Problem drinking among college students remains a concern:

• Among full-time students ages 18 to 22 years old, 61 percent were drinkers, 41 percent were binge drinkers, and 16 percent were heavy drinkers.
  
• The rates for those in that age group not enrolled in school were 54 percent drinkers, 38 percent binge drinkers, and 13 percent heavy drinkers.
  
• Sixty-eight percent of college graduates drink compared to 37 percent of non-graduates. However, non-graduates had higher rates of binge and heavy drinking.

Labels: drug use, marijuana, inhalants, prescription drugs, underage drinking, binge drinking, research

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Experts on adolescent drinking are looking for reasons why binge drinking among college students is so much more common than is excessive drinking among people the same age who aren't enrolled in college.

Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks in a row on one occasion.

Since the drinking age was raised to 21 years old by all states in the 1980s, binge drinking has declined in the group ages 18 to 24 years old, except among college students, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

• In the last 27 years, binge drinking among men ages 18 to 20 years old not enrolled in college dropped by 30 percent.
• However, binge drinking remained statistically the same among college men the same age, and increased slightly among college women, according to this study from Washington University School of Medicine.
• The survey found that 83 percent of college students drink and 41 percent admit to binge drinking over the last two weeks.

Some people believe that life on campus encourages heavy drinking, because of peer pressure, a lack of parental supervision, and having older friends who can buy alcohol for underage students.

Last year more than 100 college presidents called for lowering the legal drinking age to 18 years old, under the theory that students would be less likely to engage in secret binge drinking if it became legal. Groups such as Mothers against Drunk Driving, insurance companies, and police organizations do not want the legal drinking age lowered.

Labels: binge drinking, college_students

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A study from Penn State University indicates that parents who allow their teenagers to drink at home may be increasing their children's risk of dangerous drinking later in life.

Dr. Caitlin Abar, of PSU's Prevention Research and Methodology Center, studied 300 college freshmen. Half the group had parents who never allowed them to drink, and they were the ones less likely to drink heavily in college.

"The greater the number of drinks that a parent had set as the limit for their teens, the more often they drank and got drunk in college," Dr. Abar reported. Dr. Abar's study conflicts with conventional wisdom that it is best not to make alcohol into a "forbidden fruit" and better to drink with your children at home, the way some European families do.

A previous study from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center found that teenagers whose parents gave them alcohol at parties were three times more likely to binge drink in college.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 87 percent of college students have experimented with alcohol and 40 percent say they regularly engage in binge drinking, which is defined as having five or more drinks at one sitting.

Labels: teenage_drinking, binge drinking, college_students

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According to a May 26 report by the United Press International, the annual rate of alcohol poisoning among German teenagers increased by more than 100 percent during the first seven years of the current decade:

Reports by the German Federal Commissioner for Narcotic Drugs said the number of adolescents treated in the hospital for alcohol poisoning went from 9,500 in 2000 to 23,165 in 2007. About 3,800 of these alcohol poisoning patients were ages 10 to 15, the study said.

Martin Stolle and colleagues of the German Center for Addiction Research in Childhood and Adolescence in Hamburg said that the main reason for the increase was the number of intoxicated teen girls.

With a much more permissive attitude than most Americans have toward young people and alcohol, German society is thought by many to encourage responsible drinking by not forcing young people to hide their alcohol use. However, this study indicates that increased openness does not necessarily equate to a safer experience.

In addition to alcohol poisoning, teen binge drinking has been associated with a number of other health, social, and developmental problems.

Labels: teenage_drinking, alcohol_abuse, binge drinking

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Yet another scientific study using MRI technology has linked teenage binge drinking to brain damage.

Professor Susan Tapert of the University of California, San Diego, performed brain scans on 28 people ages 16 to 19 years old. Half of Prof. Taper's subjects were binge drinkers who got drunk often. This group had lower levels of white matter fiber coherence in 18 separate areas of their brains. White matter is critical for the relay of information within the brain.

"Because the brain is still developing during adolescence, there has been concern that it may be more vulnerable to high doses of alcohol," Dr. Tapert said.

Government surveys show that about 55 percent of all high school seniors say they have been drunk once in the past year, and about 25 percent report drinking five drinks in a row during the past two weeks.

This study appeared in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

Labels: teenage_drinking, alcohol_abuse, brain_damage, binge drinking

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 0 Comments

A Texas community organization, Texans Standing Tall, has found that girls in grades 7 through 12 have been drinking more than boys do, thanks in large part to alcoholic energy drinks (many of which are no longer available).

"Energy drinks are popular among youth, including those that contain alcohol... The only difference on the can labels is the absence of nutrition facts and the appearance of an alcohol percentage. Alcoholic beverages aren't governed by the FDA..."

Anheuser-Bush has now removed all of its alcoholic energy drinks from circulation, in response to a lawsuit claiming the drinks were marketed toward young people. Source: Lufkin (TX) Daily News

Labels: girls, boys, binge drinking

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The latest trend among college students is mixing energy drinks with alcohol. The caffeine in the energy drinks masks the effects of the alcohol, making a person think he's less drunk than he actually is.

"The research, by investigators at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina, found students who mix energy drinks with alcohol were twice as likely to be injured during a bout of drinking, to need medical attention or to ride with a driver who was drunk. They were also twice as likely to take advantage of someone sexually and nearly twice as likely to be taken advantage of sexually by someone else."

The new cocktail has become so popular that some companies have begun selling pre-mixed versions.

Labels: alcohol, binge drinking, cocktails

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With the holiday season upon us, The Science Inside Alcohol Project is suggesting that parents take a new approach when talking to their teens about alcohol abuse. Instead of trying to scare them, try to educate them.

"Provide kids with the scientific evidence behind why drinking alcohol can hurt them. Adolescents believe they are invincible, which is perfectly normal developmentally. So remember to link what you are saying as closely as possible to their personal experiences."

Talk to them about how the body is damaged by alcohol abuse, the effects of drinking at an early age, and other information that's relevant to them. If your teen is an athlete, educate him or her on how alcohol abuse can affect athletic performance.

Labels: alcohol_abuse, binge drinking, education

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New York District Attorney Janet DiFiore is joining substance abuse experts and others in a presentation intended to expose the dangers of private teen drinking parties. The event is the first in a campaign that will run through graduation season and is hosted by Responsible Action: A Drug and Alcohol Resource (RADAR).

"We're trying to make parents more aware of their legal responsibilities. Mostly, it's about the need to supervise their children. Just because they are teenagers doesnt mean our parenting days are over,' said Janet Buchbinder..."

The presentation will address more than just the legal ramifications of teenage drinking parties, but also the longer-term effects that can follow a teen into adulthood. Read more at TheJournalNews.com.

Labels: alcohol, binge drinking, teenagers

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Millions of underage children are using alcoholic beverages, according to United States Surgeon General Kenneth Moitsugu. Nearly 7.2 million children are considered binge drinkers, meaning they drink more than five drinks in one sitting.

In a press release dated March 6, 2007, Moitsugu calls for "a change in the culture and attitudes toward drinking in America. We can no longer ignore what alcohol is doing to our children." While there has been a drop in the use of illegal drugs and tobacco among America's youth, underage drinking is still a problem, partly because adults tolerate it.

Moitsugu said that new research shows that alcohol is harmful to adolescent brain development. In addition, those who start drinking before age 15 years are five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems as adults.

Labels: alcohol, underage drinking, binge drinking

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Of the more than 7 1/2 million people who attended college in 2005, 1.8 million met the medical criteria for substance abuse or dependence. The report was released by the National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University and says this number is about 2 1/2 times the national average.

"[The center's president, Joseph Califano Jr.] said nearly two-thirds of college student drinkers began drinking in high school, and 8% began in junior high."

Use of prescription drugs has skyrocketed among college students, as has marijuana use. Read more at Freep.com.

Labels: high school, students, binge drinking, college

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In response to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which found an increase in teen binge drinking, the NYU Child Study Center has released five (5) recommendations to help reduce binge drinking among teens.

"'Contrary to popular belief, parents remain the greatest influence over their childrens behavior.' Said Richard Gallagher, Ph.D.,'though media and peers play a role, parental influence is critical...'"

Recommended tips include clearly stating your expectations with regards to alcohol and substance use, and helping your child find activities and events that are substance-free. Read more at MedicalNewsToday.com.

Learn more about Teen Substance Abuse and Teen Drug Addiction at drugrehabtreatment.com.

Labels: binge drinking

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A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control found that binge drinking is the most common form of alcohol consumption among teenagers. The study also found that binge drinking is tied to other forms of risky behavior.

"Among the more 15,000 teens surveyed, nearly half reported drinking alcohol in the prior month, and more than 60% of those who drank had binged on five or more drinks..."

Binge drinking was also associated with increased risk behaviors such as getting in the car with a drunk driver, and being sexually active. Read more at PsychiatricTimes.com.

Learn more about high school and collge binge drinking >>

Labels: binge drinking

Posted By: Lori S 0 Comments

The Baltimore Sun reported on a new study in Pediatrics that shows teenagers who drink often do so solely to get drunk. Of the 15,000 teens surveyed, 64% admitted to regular binging.

"Those rates are 'unacceptably high,' said Susan Foster, director of policy at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. 'We're seeing an increase in rates of drinking to get drunk, and we're seeing that most who drink in college began drinking in high school or younger. The more they drink, the greater the likelihood they'll become addicted,' said Foster."

This study shows an increase in binge drinking among high school and college students. Read more from the BaltimoreSun.com.

Labels: alcohol, binge drinking, teenagers

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Richard Gallagher, Ph.D., Director of the Parenting Institute and the Thriving Teens Project at the NYU Child Study Center recently published five tips for parents to help curb teenage binge drinking. The NYU Child Study Center is also exploring more ways that parents can keep their teens substance free. Clinicians and researchers are developing workshops for parents of middle school students to improve their parenting skills in ways that will keep their kids alcohol and drug free.

Dr. Gallaghers tips for parents of teens:

• Clearly state what actions you expect your teen to take when confronted with substance use.


• Talk about the alcohol use that your children observe.


• Help your teen find leisure activities and places for leisure activities that are substance-free.


• Limit the access your children have to substances.


• Inform teens about the honest dangers that are associated with alcohol use and abuse.

Read more detail about each tip online.

Want to know more about teen binge drinking? Visit drugrehabtreatment.com for articles on Teenage Alcoholism and College Binge Drinking.

Labels: prevention, binge drinking, teenagers

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Young adults tend to outgrow impulsive behaviors, which in turn leads to a decrease in alcohol consumption, according to a new study from the University of Missouri,

Dr. Andrew Littlefield and his colleagues studied people in early adulthood, ages 18 to 35 years old, and found that impulsivity tends to decrease as people get older, and that trajectory corresponds to less alcohol abuse.

"Future studies could examine why some individuals make significant changes in impulsivity across time, whereas other individuals' level of impulsivity remains relatively stable," Dr. Littlefield wrote in his report in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
 

Labels: alcohol_abuse, binge drinking

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 0 Comments

Being around the opposite sex triggers stress hormones, which in turn increases the amount of alcohol consumed (and thus the likelihood of binge drinking), according to a study of laboratory animals from the Rutgers University Center of Alcohol Studies.

"We've seen consistently that the males drink more when there are females round and the females drink more when the males around," said Dr. Arthur Tomie. "And by looking at this, we can better understand what happens with people; we can understand how the tendency to binge drink is likely to occur in mixed company."

Dr. Tomie's research found that male rats drink 55 percent more when exposed to one female, and they show increased levels of corticosterone, indicating high stress levels. Alcohol is considered an anti-anxiety drug with respect to social stress, Dr. Tomie explained.
 

Labels: binge drinking

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A study of laboratory animals found that consuming too much alcohol in adolescence could lead to osteoporosis and bone loss in adulthood.

• Researchers at Loyola University in Chicago exposed rats to large amounts of alcohol during their "teenage" years.
• Some receive the equivalent of one acute episode of binge drinking; others received amounts that would qualify as chronic binge drinking.
• The control group received only solutions instead of alcohol.

The "chronic binge group" showed changes in 300 genes, 180 were related to bones. They had damaged skeletons in adulthood.

The study appears in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism.
 

Labels: health_problems, binge drinking

Posted By: Jane St. Clair 0 Comments

A new study out of Brigham Young University finds that parenting style can influence the degree to which teenagers participate in binge drinking. Nearly 5,000 teenagers were asked about their relationships with their parents, and their drinking habits.

“The teens least prone to heavy drinking had parents who scored high on both accountability and warmth. So-called ‘indulgent’ parents, those low on accountability and high on warmth, nearly tripled the risk of their teen participating in heavy drinking. ‘Strict’ parents – high on accountability and low on warmth – more than doubled their teen’s risk of heavy drinking.” [Source: Red Orbit]

Parental accountability was defined as knowing where and how kids spent their time and who they spent it with. Previous studies had shown that parents have some influence over whether their teens try alcohol, but this study shows that they have an even strong influence over the degree to which their children drink.

 

Labels: parental_involvement, binge drinking

Posted By: Adolescent Substance Abuse 1 Comment

Americans of all ethnic groups increased their intake of alcoholic beverages since the 1990s, according to a new study from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Dr. Raul Caetano and his colleagues reported an increase in the percentage of Hispanics, African Americans, and Caucasians who drink between 1992 and 2002. However, the only demographic that increased the number of drinks consumed per person during that decade was Caucasian women.

Caucasians were more likely to be binge drinkers, a term which refers to people who consume five or more drinks during one sitting. Males under 60 years old without college degrees were most likely to drink than other demographics. Being unmarried and unemployed added to the likelihood that they were drinkers.

Dr. Caetano's team went through data from the National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey and the National Epidemiologic Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions, two surveys of 43,000 people conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

"The reasons for the uptick vary and may involve complex socio-demographic changes in the population, but the findings are clear -- more people are consuming alcohol now than in the early 1990s," said Dr. Caetano. He concluded that new public health policies such as limits on the advertising of alcohol and increasing beverage taxes may be needed.

The study appears in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
 

Labels: alcohol_abuse, binge drinking

Posted By: Adolescent Substance Abuse 1 Comment