Approximately 80% of adult smokers started smoking as teenagers. Most parents realize the dangers of smoking and don’t want their child to start. Many parents begin to think about how to address that concern when their teen enters high school. Those parents would be too late according to new research. Peer pressure to smoke is greater during middle school than
Read moreParents with the best of intentions sometimes do things that unwittingly encourage their teens to experiment with drugs and alcohol. Take the time to make sure you are not making these common mistakes: Not Taking a Firm Stand Against Drug Use Long before your child faces the pressures of adolescence, they should know your stance on drugs. If you convey
Read moreWith all the statistics and media coverage of teens abusing alcohol and drugs, parents may feel discouraged and worried that they can’t protect their child from the pitfalls of substance abuse. Fortunately, that is not true. Research has consistently shown that parents have a very strong influence on their child’s likelihood of trying drugs. For example, in December 2012, Science
Read moreWhen you talk to your children about “saying no to drugs,” you are probably thinking about cigarettes, marijuana, heroin and alcohol. And yes, it is absolutely critical that parents tell their kids about the dangers of these substances. But, sometimes we forget to include our own medicine cabinet in that conversation. More and more teens are abusing prescription drugs and
Read moreCaffeine is a stimulant found in a multitude of food products ranging from coffee to chocolate. The amount of caffeine found in most foods is not enough to cause anyone harm. However, if taken in large amounts, people can suffer from caffeine poisoning. The number of emergency department visits linked with the use of non-alcohol energy doubled from 2007 to
Read moreAlcohol is, by far, the most socially acceptable and easiest drug to obtain in our country. For that reason, it’s a popular choice among teens. Although it is illegal for teens to purchase alcohol, they can often get it through their parent’s liquor cabinets, unscrupulous store clerks, or older friends who purchase it for them. The median age at which
Read moreA synthetic marijuana product, commonly called K2 or spice, is increasing in popularity among adolescents. K2 looks like marijuana, and is consumed the same way, either inhaled from a pipe or smoked as a ‘joint’ (marijuana rolled in paper, almost like a cigarette). K2 is actually a dry mixture of spices, tobacco and plant products sprayed with toxic chemicals that
Read moreTeen use of marijuana is increasing. You can learn more about the statistics, trends, effects, signs of use, and prevention techniques in one of our previous blogs, but today we want to focus on how marijuana use is affecting adolescents. Currently, the perception by many high school students is that marijuana is actually healthy, or if not healthy, at least
Read moreChristmas, Hanukah, New Year’s Eve, and more – the holidays are upon us, and with them come parties. Although holiday parties can be a lot of fun, they can also pose some serious risk to our teenagers. Rare is the teen party that does not try to include alcohol. And as we all know, alcohol can bring a whole host
Read moreOn November 17th, the American Cancer Society is hosting its 36th annual Great American Smokeout. This event encourages smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet more than 46 million
Read moreHow many teens today do you think are smoking, drinking or using drugs? Maybe a fourth? A third? Well, try a half. According to a study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), one out of every two teens is engaged in some type of drug use. The most common drug of choice among high school students
Read moreThe Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has recently completed a new analysis of four years of government data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. They have unfortunately uncovered some disturbing trends. The data shows that most underage youth get alcohol from home, and about a third were given it by their parents or guardians.
Read moreMany of you may have heard about (or seen the video clip of) 18-year-old Miley Cyrus giggling and behaving disoriented after smoking salvia. Salvia is a powerful and legal hallucinogenic herb that goes by the street names ‘divine sage,’ ‘magic mint,’ ‘ska maria pastora,’ or ‘sally d.’ This herb, which is a member of the sage family, is widely available
Read moreA couple of decades ago, parents worried about teenagers using marijuana, cocaine and heroine. Nowadays, parents need to be more worried about what’s in their medicine cabinet. Latest Research A new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that the proportion of all substance abuse treatment admissions of those aged 12 and older involving abuse
Read moreDisturbing new information about alcohol use among preteens and teens has been released. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration published federal data showing that 27.6% of 12- to 20-year-olds in the United States drank alcohol during the past month. That means that over one-quarter of American children are engaging in illegal, underage drinking. Even worse, the 2009 Partnership
Read moreWhen it comes to teen smoking, there is good news and bad news. First, the good news. A report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that the U.S. had the lowest smoking rate among 15-year-olds in the developed world, with 9 percent of girls and 7 percent of boys reporting that they were regular smokers. The National
Read moreIn the United States, 12.8% of all fatal traffic crashes were alcohol-related, and 40% of that number involved teens driving while drinking alcohol. Car accidents are the number one killer of adolescents and many of those accidents involve alcohol. Surprisingly, a recent study (ScienceDaily, Feb. 18) reported that the rate of alcohol-related fatal car crashes has risen among some populations
Read moreAlcohol is, by far, the most socially acceptable and easiest drug to obtain in our country. For that reason, it’s a popular choice among teens. Although it is illegal for teens to purchase alcohol, they can often get it through their parent’s own liquor cabinets, unscrupulous store clerks, or older friends who purchase it for them. The median age at
Read moreAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 3,000 young people become regular smokers every day, which means that 1 in 5 teens smoke cigarettes. The American Lung Association estimates that every minute four thousand eight hundred teens will take their first drag off a cigarette. Of those, about two thousand will go on to be
Read moreIn the latest research from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, 37% of teens – more than ever before – revealed they learned a lot about the risks of drugs from their parents. This is good news that parents have heard the message that they are the most powerful influence on their teen’s behaviors regarding drugs and are talking to their children
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