The annual Young Voices for Recovery contest is proof of the adage that "words matter."

As correspondent Jim Ott wrote in the Nov. 29 edition of The Oakland Tribune, the 'Voices" contest gives teenagers who are making their way through substance abuse recovery the opportunity to put their experiences down on paper:

The contest encourages youngsters between the ages of 13 to 19 to write about their experiences in seeking drug and alcohol treatment. Designed to celebrate successes, the essay contest also helps spread the word that substance abuse disorders are not just bad habits, but treatable diseases.

"Our eventual goal is to remove the stigma associated with substance abuse and treat it for what it is  a disease," said Sue Compton, chief executive officer for Axis [Community Health, which sponsors the contest]. ...

Through news releases, fliers distributed to Tri-Valley schools, and reaching out to young people who participated in the agency's drug and alcohol recovery program, Axis encourages teens to write about the impact long-term recovery has had on their lives through either their own experience or that of a person close to them.

First place in the "Voices of Recovery" contest is a $500 prize. Second place is worth $150, and third place will net one writer $50.

For more about Axis Community Health or the "Voices of Recovery" essay contest visit www.axishealth.org or call 925-201-6017.

Labels: recovery, teenagers, contest, writing

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Why do some teenagers start smoking? Why do some become heavy smokers? Researchers from the University of Montreal set out to find the answers to these questions.

• Dr. Jennifer OLoughlin and her colleagues studied 877 students for five years starting when they were 13-years old.
  
• None of the children were smoking at the beginning of the study.
  
• By the time participants were 18 years old, 48 percent were smoking.
  
• Among the smoking group, 21 percent of the teens were smoking every day.

Dr. OLoughlin's research team drew the following conclusions from their research:

• Children from single-family homes and those who perform poorly in school are at increased risk of becoming smokers.
  
• Having parents, teachers, siblings, and/or friends who smoke increase their risk by two or three times.
  
• Teenagers who felt stressed, and had trouble controlling their impulses were also more likely to smoke.

Some factors that did not increase the risk for teen smoking included gender, parents education, depression, worries about weight, excessive risk taking, involvement in sports, and television watching.

The study appeared in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Labels: tobacco use, smoking, teenagers, research

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Teens who were exposed to the school-based drug abuse prevention program Project Alert were less likely to engage in certain types of risky sexual behaviors than were teens who did not participate in the program.

According to an April 29 article on the ScienceDaily medical news website, researchers with the RAND Corporation reached this conclusion after surveying 1,901 unmarried 21-year-olds:

The study found that youth exposed to a drug abuse education program were significantly less likely as young adults to either engage in sex with multiple partners or to have unprotected sex because of drug and alcohol use than their peers who had not received the training.

Young adults exposed to Project ALERT were both less likely to have sex with multiple partners (44 percent versus 50 percent) and to have unprotected sex because of drug use (27 percent versus 32 percent) than their peers who had not been exposed to the program.

The effect of drug prevention education on teen sex isn't ideal, as the RAND researchers noted that about 71 percent of the study subjects reported not using condoms every time they had sex -- a percentage that was not altered by exposure to Project ALERT.

Unsafe sex is one of many dangerous behaviors that threaten the healthy development of many young people. Other dangers include drug use, alcohol abuse, tobacco use, poor school attendance, and inappropriate behaviors -- problems that some young people are unable to overcome until begin to work with therapeutic personnel who staff a teen substance abuse program.

Labels: prevention, drug use, schools, sex, teenagers

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A new study has found that teens who have strong relationships with their parents are less likely to begin drinking at an early age.

The findings, published in the May issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, underscore the important role parents play in the risk of problem drinking. Past studies have suggested that the age at which kids start drinking is a key factor in whether they eventually develop alcohol-related problems, like getting into fights or having academic or work problems. (Source: Science Blog)

The researchers surveyed 364 teenagers over a two-year period to determine their drinking habits and their relationships with their parents. The study defined "strong relationship" as one in which teenagers felt they could talk to their parents about their problems, and felt their parents respected their feelings.

Failing to engage in open and honest discussions with their children is among the most common mistakes parents make with teens. As the study alluded to above indicates, keeping the lines of communication open can result in a range of intended and unintended benefits.

Labels: prevention, alcohol, parental_involvement, teenagers

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Canadian parents got some good news this week, when a study of nearly 30,000 youth in British Columbia revealed that fewer young people are using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs:

Twenty-nine percent of 13-year-olds said they have drunk alcohol, down from 34 percent five years earlier. For 15-year-olds, 58 percent said they had drunk alcohol, down from 65 percent in 2003. ...

"With all the negative stereotyping we see and hear about young people in our province, it is encouraging to note that smoking, alcohol use and marijuana use have all declined since the last survey in 2003," Annie Smith, executive director of the [McCreary Centre Society, which conducted the study] after the report was released.

The survey indicates that the typical age when kids first try marijuana is 13 and 14, but the overall number of youth who have tried marijuana shrank from 37 percent in 2003 to 30 percent in 2008. (Source: The Vancouver Sun)

The news wasn't all good, reported Sun writer Pamela Fayerman. "While use of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines declined, the number of students who said they had ever used other drugs, like prescription pills (15 per cent) and hallucinogens (nine per cent), increased slightly," Fayerman wrote.

Any level of adolescent substance abuse is, of course, cause for concern -- and the Canadian study indicates that much work remains to be done. But the recent news out of Canada will surely be heartening to parents, teachers, and others who are working to keep young people away from alcohol and other drugs.

Labels: alcohol, adolescence, canada, drugs, teenagers

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The dangers of teen alcohol abuse have been widely documented, and many parents are rightly concerned about the dangers that alcohol can pose to their adolescent or teenage children.

Most of these worries center upon the effect that alcohol abuse can inflict upon healthy development, or the odds that a young person will get into an automobile accident while under the influence. But an April 9 New York Times article by Jennifer 8. Lee called attention to another danger: biking while intoxicated.

Some 21 percent of autopsies for New York City bicyclists who died within three hours of their accidents detected alcohol in the body, according to a Department of Health and Mental Hygiene study that examined fatal bicycling accidents in New York City from 1996 to 2005.

"It's something we have to call attention to," said Catherine Stayton, director of the health department's injury epidemiology unit. "To learn this is new for us. We want to get that information out there." ...

The study also found that alcohol was detected in six percent of the drivers involved in bicycle crashes.

Labels: alcohol_abuse, teenagers, safety

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Hundreds of youth organizers and teenagers gathered in Santa Barbara, Calif., April 16 to kick off an event called "Yes Youth Can!" Aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of drug and alcohol use, the program is also intended to honor the many teenagers who stay drug and alcohol free.

"It's about time for us to hear about all of these positive things," [Scott Guttentag] said, describing how surveys of local teens show that 57 percent have never consumed an alcoholic beverage and 81 percent have never smoked a cigarette." [Source: The Daily Sound (Santa Barbara, Calif.)]

These statistics may be surprising to some, who hear so much bad news about teen drug and alcohol use. But the percentages of teenagers who actually use drugs or alcohol is relatively low -- a fact that this group of teenagers hopes will persuade others to either stop using substances or continue to stay clean and sober.

Labels: teen_drug_use, alcohol_abuse, drug use, teenagers

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New reports from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America indicate that teenage abuse of methamphetamines dropped 25 percent in three years. Over half of teens in the latest survey believe it is risky to try methamphetamines even once.

The same survey found that one in ten teenagers abuse over-the-counter cough syrups, which translates into 2.4 million teens. However, 48 percent said they know that cough medications are dangerous, which is up from 45 percent in 2007.

The drug that teens abuse most often is marijuana, although its usage dropped 30 percent since 1999.

Labels: drugs, meth, teenagers

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On Feb. 18, on the steps of Montana's State Capital building, Speaker of the House Bob Bergren and Senate President Robert Story accepted petitions signed by more than 55,000 Montana residents asking for state funding of the Montana Meth Project.

"Today's event happened thanks to the incredible leadership of young people from all across Montana," said Mike Gulledge, chairman of the Montana Meth Project. "They worked for more than six months to collect signatures and plan today's activities. Their dedication is unprecedented."

Launched in 2005, the Montana Meth Project uses a wide range of advertising and community action programs to raise awareness about the dangers of methamphetamine use. Since its inception, meth use among Montana teens has declined by 45 percent. Source: Business Wire

Labels: meth, teenagers

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The overdose death of a 15-year-old Milwaukee girl has prompted hard but honest conversations about drug use among teenagers. The Wisconsin head of the Department of Justice's Narcotics Bureau discussed some of the issues on a Milwaukee morning news program.

"[David] Spakowitz detailed that heroin is more used by teenagers because it's simply not as hard to use as it was a generation ago... 'From about the mid-90s, there's been such an increase in the quality of heroin that makes it snortable. There's not the stigma associated with needles.'"

He also said the leap from marijuana or alcohol to harder drugs like heroin is being made more quickly; sometimes in as little as a year. Spakowitz encouraged parents to pay attention to their children's behavior, watch for signs of drug use, and seek help immediately if they know their child is using. Source: WTMJ News Radio (Milwaukee)

Labels: drug use, teenagers, heroin

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A major new government survey of 50,000 teens indicates that overall drug use has continued to decline over the past ten years. However, more teens are abusing prescription painkillers.

Social scientists at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research investigated the behaviors of 8th, 10th and 12th graders and found that the percentage of eighth graders using illicit drugs at least once a year dropped to 13% from 25% in 1997. For 10th graders, the rate dropped from 39% to 28%; and for 12th graders, those figures are 42% compared to 36% today.

Lloyd Johnston, principal investigator for the National Institute on Drug Use study, said, "The cumulative declines since recent peak levels of drug involvement in the mid-1990s are substantial, especially among the youngest students."

The bad news is that more teens are experimenting with prescription narcotics like Oxycotin and Vicodin, which doctors prescribe to cancer patients and others in severe pain. These drugs can produce states of euphoria often followed by stupor. Almost 10% of the 12th graders in the study had tried Vicodin, and 5% of all students in the survey had tried Oxycotin.

Researchers found an increase in the use of ecstasy, but a decline in amphetamine and methamphetamine. In addition, anabolic steroid use is on the increase among teenage boys. Marijuana remains the most popular of the illicit drugs.

Labels: addiction, teenagers, abuse

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With all the bad reports one hears about "kids today," parents could understandably feel as if their children's generation is quickly spiraling into self-destruction. But a new study offers a strange kind of encouragement - that kids today aren't that much different than kids were 30 years ago.

"It found that... a few things have changed substantially... family mobility is down, teen birth rates are down, and rates of smoking, drinking, and drug use are on the decline..."

Today's teens are also on equal footing in reading comprehension, and have fared slightly better in mathematics. The study also found that teens are at a much lower risk for death caused by accidents, violence, or disease. Source: The Jackson Sun

Labels: teenagers, generations, well-being

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The latest Monitoring the Future survey has found that prescription drug use among teenagers is still on the rise. Painkillers such as Vicodin and OxyContin were among the most popular.

"'For teenagers nowadays, prescription drugs are becoming more of a problem than illicit street drugs', said Russell Bush, Medical Director for the Lapeer County Health Department. 'We periodically have overdose and deaths in this country from prescription medication, or mixing of prescription medication with illicit drugs, and/or alcohol.'"

The mixing of prescription and illicit drugs often amplifies the effects of the prescription drug and can cause near-euphoric feelings.

NorthStar Center offers addiction recovery programs to older teens and young adults. Their substance abuse treatment center helps adolescents get on the road to health and success.

Labels: teenagers, prescription_drugs

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Drug-abuse experts call it "generational amnesia", and they say it explains why cocaine use is increasing among adolescents. Generational amnesia happens when sufficient time has passed and a new generation is no longer aware of the dangers of a particular drug. It's one of the main reasons for the cyclical increase and decrease in popularity of certain drugs.

"The visibility of cultural markers - and the absence of cautionary tales - leads to the assumption that coke is not as harmful, say, as heroin (which was associated with the high-profile overdoses of River Phoenix and Curt Cobain in the 1990s), or methamphetamine, whose recent popularity in the gay community has led to a targeted campaign against it, said Perry N. Halkitis, a professor of applied psychology at New York University who studies behavior, the AIDS epidemic and drug abuse."

By and large, cocaine is thought to be safe, which means that more teens are likely to try it. It's also considered "fashionable" in the entertainment and finance industries, which drives its popularity. The annual survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found a 20 percent increase in past-month use between 2004 and 2005, meaning that 20 percent more people admitted to using cocaine within the last 30 days. Read more at TheLedger.com.

The Teen-Help-Directory offers resources for parents on teen substance abuse and drug addiction, including articles about the warning signs and what treatment options exist. Learn about teen drug and alcohol use and prevention tactics to keep your adolescent on the right path.

Labels: cocaine, teenagers, rise_in_use

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While use of illegal drugs has been declining across the nation, the illegal use of prescription drugs has been on the rise. The state of Michigan is among the states that rank highest for illegal prescription drug use among teens, with recent studies claiming that 12% of Michigan teens use prescription drugs to get high.

"Although millions of Americans benefit from the proper use of prescription drugs, they can be dangerous when taken without medical supervision or mixed with other drugs or alcohol. Teens who abuse prescription drugs to get high can suffer serious consequences including addiction, strokes, seizures, comas, and even death."

Many teens are migrating to prescription drugs because they're easier to get, and teens make the incorrect assumption that prescription drugs are safer than their illegal counterparts. Read more online.

Labels: addiction, prescription drugs, teenagers

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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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Anheuser-Bush has recently released an energy drink called Spykes. The main difference between this and other energy drinks is that this one is an alcoholic beverage. Some consumer and parenting groups are accusing the company of intentionally marketing the product to teenagers.

"Spykes... has roughly the same alcohol content as wine and comes in such flavors as Spicy Mango and Hot Melons. But it is the energy-drink appeal and the marketing that is nearly exclusively present on the Internet that has some researchers worried."

Underage drinking accounts for over $20 billion in alcohol sales each year. And though Anheuser-Bush has released a statement claiming Spykes is intended for adults, researchers are doubtful and are calling both the drink and its marketing campaign "highly irresponsible". Read more at ABCNews.com.

Labels: alcohol, teenagers, marketing

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Hookah smoking is a current fad among American young people with new cafes and bars appearing near college campuses every month. However, a report from the American Lung Association indicates that the usual 45-minute hookah smoke is the equivalent of 100 cigarettes.

The smoke from these water pipes also has higher levels of carbon monoxide: 1.4% compared to 0.4% in cigarettes. The flavored tobacco is linked to oral, lung and bladder cancer.

Thomas Carr, national policy manager for the ALA, said that research indicates adolescents who use hookah tobacco are more likely to "graduate" to cigarette smoking.

Labels: smoking, teenagers, fads

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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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Kentucky Senators have introduced a bill that they are hoping will cause teens to think twice about consuming alcohol. Under the bill, anyone under 21 who's found in possession of alcohol could have their drivers license suspended for three months.

"Last year, nearly 1,900 minors statewide were found guilty of possessing alcohol, or paid fines after being issued citations..."

Though some skeptics doubt whether the threat of losing a license will deter teens from drinking, many feel that its better than nothing. Read more at Courier-Journal.com.

Labels: prevention, alcohol, teenagers

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A recent study in Australia revealed that many of the high school students who tried alcohol got it from their parents. Of the students who said they had recently consumed alcohol, 37 percent said their parents provided the drink.

"Dr. Delyse Hutchinson, from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, says the figures are a concern, because research shows those who drink early are more likely to develop problems with alcohol later in life."

Some proponents say it's good to introduce alcohol to kids early, to reduce or remove the stigma of drinking - as is done in many European countries. But Dr. Hutchinson warns that the positive effects are largely overstated, and many of those countries have higher rates of alcohol abuse that we realize. Read more at ABC.net.au.

Labels: alcohol, parents, teenagers

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In Galesburg, Illinois, four high school students participated in the annual Knox County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition to share their opinions and ideas about preventing substance abuse among teenagers.

"One of the key problems identified was a lack of prevention programs and support in schools after students finish programs like DARE in junior high."

Many of the students said drug and alcohol problems increase significantly in high school and that the peer pressure is strong. Many of the opinions and suggestions will be used to develop the Coalitions 2007 plan. Read more at Register-Mail.com.


COPPER CANYON ACADEMY enrolls adolescent girls 13 to 17 years of who have experimented with drugs and alcohol; made poor choices in friends; exhibited signs of depression, anger, low self-esteem, or anxiety; and who have isolated themselves from friends and family by lying and cheating. Learn more about COPPER CANYON ACADEMY >>

Labels: prevention, teenagers

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A group of students recently gathered for Putnam County's (New York) first Communities That Care Youth Summit. The purpose of the summit was for adults to gather information and suggestions from students about how to prevent substance abuse and drug use among young people.

"One group wanted the schools to alternate hosting family dinner nights. Another wanted community service to be rewarded with free movie tickets or passes to amusement parks. A third group wanted the community to build a recreation center complete with an arcade, a swimming pool, computers and miniature golf."

Janeen Cunningham, deputy director of the Youth Bureau believes that it's time the adults started asking young people for their input about ways to curb teen drug and alcohol abuse and taking it seriously. Read more at TheJournalNews.com.

Labels: prevention, teenagers

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A year ago, most city, county, and sate officials were concerned with teen use of things like marijuana and cocaine. Though use of those drugs is still an issue, more and more people are becoming aware of the increased abuse of prescription medication.

"According to an analysis of national surveys prepared by [John] Walters office, 2.1 million teenagers abused prescription drugs in 2005, the most recent year for which figures are available."

The increased used is primarily attributed to accessibility and the misconception that prescription drugs are safer. Read more at TheOaklandPress.com.

Labels: prescription drugs, teenagers, abuse

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As research continues to provide increasing evidence that the brain undergoes significant development during the teenage years, pediatricians are being encouraged to talk more honestly with their young patients about teen alcohol and drug abuse. At the same time, doctors are also asking parents to have more frank discussions.

 “Talk with your children about your family’s history of alcohol or drug use. There’s a genetic component to alcoholism, and kids should know if they’re at greater risk of problems. Give your children one-on-one time with the pediatrician. Think of it as their lesson in how to navigate the healthcare system.” (Source: U.S. News and World Report)

Parents should also set firm household policies about drugs and alcohol, making alcohol off-limits until age 21, and drugs off-limits period. It’s also important for parents to model responsible behavior. Have a beer, but don’t get drunk.


 

Labels: teenage_drinking, teen_drug_use, alcohol_abuse, drug use, teenagers

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 0 Comments

‘Tis the season. Not for twinkle lights and fat men in red suits, but for proms and graduation. The season is upon us, and while teenagers and their parents have much to celebrate, they have some things to be cautious about, too. With celebration often comes alcohol – but times of celebration are no excuse to justify teen alcohol abuse.

“To help prevent underage drinking, the Family Talk program encourages open, honest communication between parents and children. Developed by an advisory panel of education, family counseling, child psychology and alcohol treatment professionals, Family Talk materials are distributed free to parents and educators…” (Source: Columbus Parent Magazine)

In a 2009 report, 68 percent of kids ages eight to 17 listed their parents as the people who most influenced their attitudes about drinking. The Family Talk program aims to help parents capitalize on their influence. Visit www.familytalkonline.com for more information.

 

Labels: alcohol_abuse, teenagers, celebration

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 0 Comments