A new study shows that one in five Wisconsin teenagers have abused prescription pain killers. This is the first time the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has asked about teenage prescription drug abuse in its annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
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If you are the parents of a young adult or older teen (ages 18 and older) who is addicted to drugs and/or alcohol, have tried other approaches that have failed, or your son or daughter remains resistant to treatment, you may have lost all hope of them ever getting clean and sober. Wilderness experiential therapy for young adults may offer the solution.
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An Emory University study has found that daily marijuana use in adolescence may hasten the onset of symptoms leading up to psychosis. Science Daily reports that the study was published in the November issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
As part of an expanded reality-TV-style program aimed at combating drunk driving, high school students across New York City will hear 911 calls from drunk-driving crashes, watch gory videos, and listen to convicted felons.
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New research shows that thrill-seeking teenagers are especially susceptible to fruit-flavored cigarettes, coinciding with the recent ban on the sale of flavored cigarettes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the FDA, the September 2009 ban, authorized by the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, is part of a national effort by the FDA to reduce smoking, which is the leading preventable cause of death in America.
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Whether non-smoking Mexican-American adolescents go on to experiment with smoking depends largely on their initial attitude toward the habit, researchers at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report in the December issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
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At a Russian hip-hop awards show Friday night, young fans were praising their prime minister by chanting “Respect, Vladimir Vladimirovich.” Putin took the stage after a rapper’s performance to warn Russia’s youth about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, which are both major problems across the nation.
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Alcohol and drug use are known contributors to adolescents engaging in dangerous sexual activity, which can lead to health risks such as unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. However, research suggests that fewer than half of pediatricians report screening patients for substance use and at-risk sexual behavior.
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It isn’t any real surprise that drugs can have a negative impact on a person – especially with prolonged use. Now, research conducted on rats is finding that high doses of amphetamines at an age that corresponds to the later years of adolescence tends to greatly impact memory in adult life.
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The evidence is there. You’ve noticed a distict personality or behavior change in your child or teen. Their schoolwork and grades plummet. They act apathetic, not caring about former friends, activities, even goals. Maybe they’ve even lost a part-time job. And you’ve probably smelled alcohol on their breath, found drug paraphenalia around the house, or caught them using drugs and/or alcohol with their friends. The question is: What do you as parents do?
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