A site for parents and teens who want to be better informed about
drug abuse and addiction as it affects young people today.
teens
Brief Talks with Teens May Reduce Marijuana Use
Posted on June 28, 2011
Nearly one-third of high-school students in the United States have smoked marijuana, and most say the drug is easy to find. Many people believe that marijuana isn’t dangerous or addictive. But researchers disagree.
Extreme Binge Drinking Puts Teen Lives at Risk
Posted on March 8, 2011
As binge drinking continues to be a focus of concern for those under the age of 21, recent research has identified the dangers in "extreme binge drinking" or the consumption of more than 10 or more than 15 drinks on a single occasion.
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.
Adolescents with Family History of Alcohol Abuse More Likely to Develop Alcoholism
Posted on December 7, 2010
A new study has found that adolescents with a family history of alcohol abuse are at a significantly higher risk of developing alcoholism in the future. Adolescence is a time when the brain is changing and developing, mostly in the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with decision making and understanding. Adolescence is also a time when many people start drinking alcohol, which can be detrimental to the development of the brain.
Early Marijuana Use and Amount of Marijuana Use May Affect Cognitive Function
Posted on November 21, 2010
Many research studies are adding to the growing body of evidence suggesting that young people who use marijuana are at risk of cognitive damage. A new study shows that those who start using marijuana at an early age and those who use the greatest amount of the drug may be the most impaired when it comes to cognition.
Rural Teens More Likely to Abuse Prescription Drugs Than Urban Teens
Posted on November 1, 2010
Teens who live in rural areas are more likely to abuse prescription drugs than their urban-dwelling peers, according to a new study that will be published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. About one in eight U.S. adolescents report abusing prescription opioids such as Valium or OxyContin, according to background information in the article. The authors write that those who start using prescription drugs earlier in life have a greater chance of developing drug dependency later in life.
Study Shows that Most People Lie About Drug Use, Even to Researchers
Posted on October 26, 2010
A new study shows that teens and parents often lie about their drug use, even when they know they’ll be tested for drug use or if they are told their responses are confidential. Lead author Dr. Virginia Delaney-Black, a professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, said that the findings are important for pediatricians and clinicians to understand.
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.
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.
