Information about alcohol use is usually focused on teens and college students, and sometimes on middle school students. But six years ago, John Donovan started gathering information about alcohol use among students in fourth through sixth grades.

"In one national survey, for instance, about 10 percent of fourth-graders and 29 percent of sixth-graders said they'd had more than a sip of alcohol. In a survey in New York State, 21 percent of fifth- and sixth-graders reported having a drink of alcohol at some point, including 7 percent who had drunk liquor, as distinct from beer or wine."

Though conclusions are difficult to draw, Donovan hopes the initial information will move people to dig deeper into alcohol trends among younger students. One thing that is known: a person who starts drinking before the age of 15 is five times more likely to have alcohol-related problems later in life.

Teen alcohol abuse can be prevented. Visit DrugRehabTreatment.com to learn how to help your teenager.

Labels: children, middle_school, trends

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