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

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

WeeWorld is an online virtual world where people can create “mini-Wees” that interact with each other in contrived, internet-generated environments. About 36 million people, most of them teenagers, have registered with WeeWorld, and the Partnership for a Drug-Free America is now using the site to reach teens.

“The centerpiece of the campaign was an actual young adult named JT who is in recovery from substance abuse and addiction. Through his custom-designed WeeMee, home page and room, JT visually interacted with a growing base of over 20,000 teen friends, posted messages and shared weekly scenarios drawn from CheckYourself.com.” [Source: PR Newswire]

The online character also shared drug use prevention videos from the wreckED program – an educational campaign also created by the Partnership. Over 200,000 items have been downloaded from JT’s homepage, including skateboards, TVs and posters. The virtual items are downloaded by other users whose Wee characters wear or display them in a show of support.

 

Labels: awareness, internet, social_system

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 0 Comments