The Choking Game: A Dangerous Way to Get High

Posted on February 2, 2012

For decades, parents have been told to talk with their children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Through the media, parents were educated on the importance of being aware of signs that their children might be experimenting with cocaine or marijuana.

But kids are smart and are finding new ways to get high from a practice of which their parents might not yet be aware. Looking for drugs in their dresser drawers and closets and smelling their breath or clothing will not likely help to find this newer practice. The Choking Game, also known as Pass Out, the Fainting Game, and Space Monkey, is when a person cuts off the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain to induce a high sensation.

Why Your Teen’s Friends Matter

Posted on October 25, 2011

It is often said that “friends are the family we choose for ourselves.” When our siblings embarrass us and our parents just don’t understand, we turn to our friends for guidance and support. This is especially true during adolescence, when the opinions of peers begin to dictate how teens look, dress and act.

The Curse of Turning 9? Milestone Marks Start of Many Teen Issues

Posted on August 16, 2011

The average 9-year-old is busy with music lessons, team sports, sleepovers and mastering the fourth grade. What many parents don’t realize is that the average 9-year-old today is also facing what are usually considered “teen issues.” Research shows that by the tender age of 9, the seeds of emotional and behavioral problems are already beginning to blossom.

More Teens Binge Drinking and Believing the Habit to be “Normal”

Posted on June 7, 2011

While numbers of teens trying alcohol in some states have remained steady in recent years, an alarming trend is surfacing that has parents, school officials and health experts deeply concerned.

Study Examines Roles of Friends in Teen Decisions to Take Risks

Posted on April 11, 2011

While everyone may have different levels of tolerance for risk, it is often apparent that teens are more resilient. When taking risks, teens also generally enjoy having company along.

According to a recent study, teens are five times more likely to be involved in a car accident when driving with a group as compared to driving alone. Teens are also more likely to commit a crime when among friends.

Can Parents Keep their Kids Off Drugs?

Posted on March 9, 2010

Much attention has been given to the role of peers in adolescents’ decisions about substance abuse. Programs focus on peer pressure and the importance of school environment and how extracurricular activities may also play a role in shaping behaviors related to drugs and alcohol.

Study Examines Influence of Adolescent Romance on Partner Alcohol Use

Posted on October 7, 2009

The question of which came first enters into a variety of scenarios when studying activities, habits and friends of adolescents. When alcohol is entered into the mix, one of the questions asked is in relation to the people surrounding the adolescent. Are these people in the picture because of the alcohol, or are they the reason for it?

20 Ways to Say “No” to Alcohol & Drugs

Posted on June 26, 2009

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to say no – especially to a friend. But when it comes to your friends urging you to drink or do a drug, that’s exactly what you have to do. Here are some rebuttals you may find effective. Feel free to elaborate or change them to suit your own circumstances, age, marital or family status, personality, comfort level or needs. After all, it’s all up to you.

Helping Your Teen Cope with Peer Pressure to Drink or Use Drugs

Posted on May 22, 2009

By Suzanne Kane

Parents know that peer pressure is a powerful force in teens’ lives. Not all peer pressure is bad, but some is very dangerous. Peer pressures to study hard, get good grades, excel in sports or other activities are often beneficial. When it comes to drinking and doing drugs, however, this powerful group force can have a very negative effect. Peer pressure can lead to teens making poor decisions, including those involving alcohol and drugs. But you can help your teens counteract the urge to go along with the group to drink and/or do drugs. What are some strategies to help teens cope with dangerous peer pressure?

Peer Pressure to Drink Jumps When Teens Reach High School

Posted on May 22, 2009

School administrators have a lot to worry about on a daily basis, and unfortunately, the instance of drug use and abuse is at the top of the list. For administrators in Saratoga Springs, they have tried to get in front of the issue by conducting a biannual survey to fully understand the problem within their school district.