Home May Be a Top Danger Zone for Young Teens and Alcohol

Posted on April 2, 2011

More and more pre-teens are getting alcohol without even leaving the comfort of home, says recent research.

As many as 700,000 children in the 12 to 14-years age bracket in the U.S. have experimented with alcoholic beverages they acquired at home.

Sexting: A New Danger for Teens and Their Parents

Posted on March 7, 2011

If you haven’t already heard, there’s a new way for kids to get in trouble. It’s called sexting. Sexting involves trading sexually explicit images or text messages back and forth using cell phones. Although the messages, by definition, are seen by only the sender and receiver, the messages can be, and typically are, forwarded to others. It’s a new twist on the game “telephone”, with exponentially more and more people receiving and re-sending the message.

Emergency Room Visits by Underage Drinkers Significantly Increase on New Year’s Day

Posted on December 31, 2010

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), underage drinking is a major problem in the United States that worsens on holidays, especially on New Year’s Day. Underage drinking often leads to trips to the emergency room, due to overconsumption of alcohol or alcohol-related accidents or injuries.

Teens in Juvenile Centers May Be Given Anti-Psychotic Drugs Without Diagnosis

Posted on October 27, 2010

Psychologists and youth experts are bringing to light an alarming problem among juvenile incarceration facilities – the possible overuse of drugs meant for treating personality or mood disorders as a way of sedating teens.

Conduct Disorder in Adolescence May Be Predictor of Future Substance Use Disorder

Posted on October 14, 2010

Adolescents with conduct disorders are more likely to suffer from substance use disorders as adults, according to a study by researchers from the New York University School of Medicine, New York City. David W. Brook, MD, and colleagues said that substance use disorders are associated with unemployment, low education levels, risky sexual behavior, and psychiatric disorders.

Gang Presence in Schools Predicts Drug Use

Posted on October 11, 2010

As a general rule, parents worry about their children when they go off to school. Will the child get a good education? Will the child make good friends? Will the child get involved in drugs?

Talking with Teens to Prevent Dangerous Behaviors

Posted on October 1, 2010

When it comes to keeping kids away from alcohol, there are as many combinations of approaches as there are kids. With each teenager comes a different background of experiences, a different home life, and a different economic situation. Each teen can present a specific group of challenges that influence his or her decisions whether or not to participate in dangerous behaviors.

Frequent Family Dinners Significantly Decreases Risk of Teen Drug Abuse

Posted on September 27, 2010

Dinnertime conversation makes a huge difference in children’s decision-making regarding future risky behavior, a new report finds. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Colombia University’s (CASA) sixth annual The Importance of Family Dinners, teenagers who have infrequent family dinners are more than two times as likely to expect to use drugs in the future as teenagers who report having frequent family dinners.

Marijuana Use Rises Among Indiana Adolescents

Posted on September 20, 2010

Although cigarette use by middle- and high-school students in Indiana is down, marijuana use has increased, according to the 20th Annual Survey of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use.

Parents Need an Awakening: Prevention Starts at Home

Posted on September 14, 2010

The idea of starting a new school year often has some parents relieved that their children are back in a structured environment where drugs and alcohol are not easily accessible. According to a recent Huffington Post report, however, parents need to think twice before they assume school is a safe destination.