A new study by Vanderbilt University indicates that individuals who have a tendency to take unnecessary risks and/or abuse substances may be influenced by an inability to process the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine allows individuals to experience pleasure. Those who have trouble processing the neurotransmitter may engage in a greater number of dopamine-producing activities in an effort to achieve a normal level of satisfaction. David Zald, associate professor of psychology and lead author of the study, commented on the findings:

"We've found that the density of these dopamine autoreceptors is inversely related to an individual's interest in and desire for novel experiences. ...The fewer available dopamine autoreceptors an individual has, the less they are able to regulate how much dopamine is released when these cells are engaged. Because of this, novelty and other potentially rewarding experiences that normally induce dopamine release will produce greater dopamine release in these individuals."

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

Labels: addicts, risky_behaviors, dopamine

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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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Female binge drinkers are more likely to contract sexually transmitted infections and to participate in risky sexual behaviors that are women who don't drink, according to a new study from Johns Hopkins University.

Researchers interviewed 671 people over a 13-month period as they were being treated for sexually transmitted diseases. Women who binge drink were five times more likely to have gonorrhea, and three times more likely to participate in anal sex and to have several partners compared to females who do not drink.

Binge drinking is defined as having five or more alcoholic drinks in one session.

"Binge drinking results in a decreased ability to make clear decisions and can enable individuals to engage in behaviors that they would not if sober," according to Dr. Geetanjali Chander, one of the authors of the study.

The authors noted that today's women are drinking more than previous generations, and that when young women drink, they are at greater risk for sexual assault.

This study appears in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

Labels: women, risky_behaviors, binge_drinking

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The dangers of smoking have been known for years. But a recent report filed by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse has found that smoking is especially dangerous for adolescents.

"CASA's original analysis of data from the NDSUH [National Survey on Drug Use and Health] finds that teens who smoke are nine times likelier to meet the medical criteria for past year alcohol abuse or dependence and 13 times likelier to meet the medical criteria for abuse and dependence on an illegal drug than teens who don't smoke."

The study also found that teens ages 12 to 17 are twice as likely to suffer from symptoms of depression if they smoke. Feelings of anxiety and worthlessness were also more likely.

Labels: smoking, health_problems, risky_behaviors

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Male college students are more likely to commit property crimes and abuse substances than males of the same age not enrolled in universities, according to a new study from Bowling Green University.

For purposes of the study, "college student" was defined as a male enrolled in a four-year university program.

Peggy Giordano and Stephen Cernkovich, using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, examined information about 9,245 middle and high school students. The college-bound students had lower levels of criminal activity and substance abuse in grades 7 through 12 than the non-college-bound, but they did worse than the other group once they enrolled in universities.

Labels: boys, college_students, risky_behaviors

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At 14, Brianna was living a double life. The daughter of divorced parents, she spent healthy and positive time with her father and stepmother - but life with her mother included abuse and self-injury. She remembers the day the truth came out.

"Her father and stepmother had found a box in her room, filled with pills and the tools [she] was using to injure herself. 'That's when I had my breakdown and everything came out,' [she] said."

She told her dad about the abuse, as well as her own drug use and self-injury. Counseling and behavioral therapy have helped her tremendously, and she's about to graduate from high school. She wants kids in similar situations to know that there is better way to live. Getting away from drugs and self-harm isn't easy, but it can be done. Source: The Reporter-Herald

Visit Therapeutic Boarding Schools to learn about the benefits of therapeutic boarding schools and how they help troubled teens and their families.

Labels: risky_behaviors, self-harm, cutting

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The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has conducted a study to determine the effects of insomnia on adolescents. Researchers found that sleep is not the only thing that is lost.

"The study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, found adolescents with chronic insomnia were much more likely to have problems with drug use, depression, school work, jobs and perceived health."

More than 3,000 teens were interviewed as part of the study, and more than 25 percent were found to have one or more symptoms of insomnia. Read more at UPI.com.

Labels: sleep, risky_behaviors, insomnia

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Alcohol consumption lowers inhibitions and can affect a person's ability to recognize dangerous situations or unhealthy decisions. Studies have shown that 55% of females and 75% of males have been drinking when an alleged date rape occurred.

"A fact that often goes unnoticed is people are more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted by people they know versus the hooded stranger standing in the corner. Date rape may happen to you, your loved ones or friends."

Teens need to be alert to dangerous situations and parents, of course, need to be looking out for their kids. Know the people your child goes out with, and when possible, make sure they're not going out alone. Read more at GuamPDN.com.

Labels: alcohol, risky_behaviors, rape

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Community leaders, doctors, law enforcement officials, school personnel, and doctors gathered together in Lafayette, Colo., to discuss the current state of underage drinking. The panel was one of hundreds that took place across the country.

"[Leisha Conners-Bauer] said a 2005 survey of Boulder Valley School District students found that while 70 percent to 75 percent of all high school students said they think there is harm involved in drinking alcohol frequently, and as many as 90 percent said they know their parents would disapprove of them drinking, most students still think it's OK to drink in moderation."

Many experts on the panel expressed concern over this viewpoint, citing the likelihood that someone who begins drinking at a young age is at a much higher risk for alcohol dependence than an adult. Read more at DailyCamera.com.

Labels: underage_drinking, risky_behaviors, acceptance

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Results of a study released by the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition found that pre-teens are more likely to try inhalants than marijuana. This trend continued into the early teen years.

"In the past year, 3.4 percent of 12-year-olds report using an inhalant, while only 1.1 percent tried marijuana, and 2.7 percent took prescription painkillers. That trend continued with 13-year-olds, with 4.8 percent using inhalants, 4 percent trying marijuana, and 3.9 percent taking prescription painkillers."

Inhalants can cause severe neurological damage and sudden death. Nevertheless, more than 45 percent of 12- and 13-year-olds who tried drugs last year used inhalants. Read more at NLM.NIH.gov.

Labels: death, inhalents, risky_behaviors

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A new study published in the Journal of Prevention Science finds that the reason a teenager drinks is important as to whether or not he or she becomes an alcoholic.

Lori Palen, chief researcher in the study done at Pennsylvania State University, surveyed 1877 high school seniors and found that 75% drink. One-third said they drink for the thrill of it, 36% to experiment, and 15% to relax.

However, the minority (18%) reported drinking for multiple reasons, such as an inability to deal with anger and frustration, experienced more problems with alcohol. They were more likely to have started drinking as early as sixth grade, and more likely to drink on a daily basis.

Teens who have difficulty controlling their emotions and dealing with their feelings may benefit from a residential treatment center that offers therapy and academics. SunHawk Academy is a residential treatment program in a boarding school setting that caters to the needs of teens with substance abuse problems.

Labels: alcohol_abuse, risky_behaviors, pressure

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Utah's Governor has asked the Legislature for enough money to expand a program called Project Empower into four more counties across the state. The program is aimed at reducing alcohol and substance abuse among teens, and the expansion would cost over $700,000.

"Weber Human Services officials said the program has helped reduce depression, separation anxiety, anti-social behaviors  all risk factors for dangerous behaviors."

Project Empower works with high-risk offenders who are one step away from juvenile prison. Programs such as this one often reduce the rate of repeat criminal activity by about 30 percent.

Labels: prevention, treatment, risky_behaviors

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Beginning in January of next year, the city of Waltham, Massachusetts will have a new outpatient substance abuse program. Started by the nonprofit organization Rediscovery, Inc, the program will seek to meet the needs of adolescents who have substance abuse issues and need help abstaining from their destructive behavior.

"Initially, the program will only be offered to a handful of teens. Yet, Ferrier said there is a chance of expanding the program. The patients will be given a specific substance abuse treatment to follow, she said."

The program will be run by a licensed clinician, and will treat substance abuse and trauma simultaneously through both outpatient and therapy services. Rediscovery, Inc. was started in 2001 as a nonprofit organization whose focus is helping foster care children transition into adulthood.

Labels: treatment, sobriety, risky_behaviors

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It seems that the propensity for risky behavior among teenagers is not just a matter of choice, but a matter of science. Researchers recently conducted a study in which they monitored brain activity in adolescents and adults during a gambling game.

"As expected, teens bet more often than adults did when the payoff was bigger but the risk of losing was high."

Researchers found that teens use less of the prefrontal cortex, or thinking region of the brain, when making decisions. The "reward" system in an adolescent brain also seems to respond more actively when positive results are achieved as a result of risky behavior. Brain researcher Monique Ernst believes studies like this will help in finding ways to prevent teens from making dangerous choices. Read more at ScienceCentral.com.

Youth Care's programs for troubled teens help by offering accredited academics with a therapeutic treatment plan designed personally for each student. Learn more about Youth Care.

Labels: brain_chemistry, risky_behaviors, decision_making

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The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)'s Treatment Episode Data Set has revealed some distinct differences between the substance abuse risks for girls and those for boys. Most notably, though girls only made up 1/3 of the total number of adolescents admitted for treatment in 2005, they were much more likely to have a co-occurring psychiatric disorder.

"Adolescents admitted with a psychiatric problem in addition to a substance abuse problem were counted as having a co-occurring disorder. Girls were more likely to have such co-occurring disorders, which were reported in 23 percent of the female admissions compared with 18 percent of the male admissions."

Girls were also more likely to enter treatment at an earlier age for both alcohol and marijuana, and were much more likely to abuse drugs like cocaine and opiates. Read more at EMaxHealth.com.

Learn about the connection between teens and drugs at the Teen Help Directory. You'll find information about adolescent substance abuse and teenage drug abuse at TeenHelpDirectory.com.

Labels: risky_behaviors, genders, disorders

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"Just Say No" was a popular anti-drug slogan for years. And there's certainly no shortage of anti-drug programs in the United States and other countries. But are they effective? A recent study in China has found that they may not be.

"A new study has found that using education and prevention programs alone to persuade teens to keep away from drinking, smoking or taking drugs are unlikely to be effective, as competing systems within the brain make adolescents more susceptible to engaging in risky or dangerous behavior."

The study researched the development of two different brain systems - the socioemotional and cognitive-control systems - and how those systems influenced decision making among adolescents. The cognitive-control system, which regulates behavior, works best when the teen is alone. However, when peers are present, the socioemotional system - which is more sensitive to social influence, takes over, inhibiting the cognitive-control system and the teen's ability to make good decisions. Read more at ChinaDaily.com.

Labels: brain_chemistry, risky_behaviors, decision_making

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Researchers from a London Centre for Research on Drugs and Health Behavior have begun looking for alternative solutions to the problem of risky behavior among teens. Many of them feel that current methods have only had limited success.

"...trials in both Australia and the United States showed that projects which aimed to improve school ethos helped improve the health behaviors of their students... The US study reported a 34% reduction in a combined measure of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use among boys, plus significant benefits regarding condom use, frequency of sex, violence and truancy."

More and more school officials are beginning to understand the importance of improving the overall culture in schools, and work to improve things like teacher-student communication. Read more online.

Labels: schools, communication, risky_behaviors

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