Adolescent Addiction
Study: Teens see 5 drinks a day as no biggie
Downing five or more alcoholic drinks nearly every day isn't seen as a big problem for many of the nation's teens, says a new report.
When asked if they see "great risk" in drinking that much, almost half the teens questioned - 45 percent - didn't see it as a big deal.
The study released Wednesday by The Partnership at Drugfree.org also showed upward trends in marijuana and ...
Cutting and Self-Harm
Cutting, or self-harming, is intentional self-injurious behavior resulting in tissue damage, illness, and/or risk of death. Cutting is generally not done with suicidal intent, though teens who engage in self-harming behaviors are at a statistically higher risk for suicide. Despite what your teen may report, these acts of self-mutilation do not represent typical or harmless [...] ...
Drug Addiction Starts During Teen Years
Two new studies involving laboratory animals indicate that adolescence is a crucial time to develop drug addictions, because adults react differently to drugs than youngsters. The first study was from Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois. Dr. Justin Rhodes and his colleagues found that adolescent mice were less sensitive to the effects of cocaine ...
Combining Alcohol and Drugs
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports that 17.5 percent of underage drinkers admitted to having used illicit drugs within 2 hours of using alcohol. When drugs and alcohol are combined, the result is often a visit to the emergency department. Healthcare professionals have an opportunity during that visit to intervene and educate ...
Study Suggests Religiosity in Adolescence may Deter Alcohol Use
During the teen years, adolescents have ample opportunity to experience initiation into alcohol consumption. While research has shown that many environmental factors such as the number of drinking friends, family income level and parental involvement all contribute to how adolescents decide whether to drink, there are also biological factors at play. One very difficult aspect [...] ...
Marijuana Use in Adolescence Associated with Adult Depression
High school students who use marijuana are at higher risk for drug abuse and other problems as adults, and it may have something to do with the physical aspects of adolescent brains, according to two new studies. The first study done by Australians followed 1943 people from age 15 to 24 years old. Those who ...
ER visits among underage drinkers rise sharply on New Year's Day, study finds
Underage drinking has been deemed a major public health problem by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now a study says emergency rooms treat more underage drinkers on New Year's Day than on any other day of the year.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported Thursday an estimated 1,980 emergency room visits involved underage drinkers on New ...
Online resource launched for parents facing teen addiction
The Partnership at Drugfree.org has launched an online program called " Time To Get Help ," a first-of-its-kind Web site and online community designed to provide parents of teens and young adults with lifesaving information when families are in crisis and facing their child's addiction. Guided by the input and real-world experiences of the organization's Parent Advisory Board, the site offers ...
Teens Prefer Prescription Stimulants to Get High, Stay Awake, and Lose Weight
Teens will often go to great lengths to escape their current environment, both physically and mentally. One substance that is often introduced to assist in the mental escape is stimulant drugs. A new KOTATV report shows that these drugs, which are often prescribed legally, tend to be abused by teens. Stimulants are usually obtained through ...
Dr. Drew Addresses Teen Prescription Drug Abuse
Silver Spring, Md. — Addiction expert and national TV and radio personality Dr. Drew Pinsky (Dr. Drew) is speaking out to raise awareness of teen prescription drug abuse, and to introduce a new Web site - www.SmartMovesSmartChoices.org - that educates and empowers parents, teens and educators to get smart about this problem among our nation's youth. When used under the care of a doctor at ...
Study Drugs Are a Growing Problem
For years, it has been common practice for college students to take advantage of certain substances that would enable them to better perform a task, stay up late to study or simply concentrate more thoroughly on a project. To the average college student this may seem normal – to others it is drug abuse. To ...
Campus Addiction Recovery Programs Offer Hope for Struggling Students
As the pressures of finals week mount, so does the desire to drink. For some, drowning their anxieties and frustrations provides a means of escape. For others, alcohol serves as a reward for all the hard work done throughout the semester. Regardless, it does appear that finals week and booze sales do go hand-in-hand. One [...] ...
Teen Heroin Addiction Growing Rapidly in Seattle
Parents with teens in high school are generally focused on making sure their child is performing properly in class and meeting expectations in order to graduate and move forward with future plans. For parents of students of Stanwood High School outside of Seattle, the bigger battle is against an addiction to heroin. An ABC News ...
NY launches Web site, PSA to help parents prevent underage drinking
Albany, NY — New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Commissioner Karen M. Carpenter-Palumbo announced a new state Web site, "Talk2Prevent.com," and public service announcement to help parents talk to kids about the dangers of underage drinking. The parent campaign was unveiled at the Addictions Care Center of Albany's 2nd Annual Start Smart Field Day, ...
Young people will discuss the elements critical to their recovery
About 50 young adults ages 18 to 25 will get together in December for a dialogue on the factors that have been most instrumental in their recovery from substance addiction. The Dec. 13 event's sponsor, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), hopes the discussion will help identify a framework for how best to establish recovery-oriented systems of care for young ...
Most Teenagers Deny Their Drug Use, Even When Undergoing Drug Testing
Most national reports on teenage drug use are based on data gathered from either self-reports or confidential reports conducted on high school students. Even though the latest studies on at-risk youth from urban areas have indicated a rise in substance abuse, teenagers still may not be admitting to the whole truth. A new study by ...
Teens Lie About Drug Use, (And So Do Parents)
Teenagers' confidential reports about illicit drug use are used by doctors and public health experts to measure the extent of the problem, and to help teens in trouble. But it turns out that teens fib big time in those anonymous surveys—and their parents do, too.
Researchers asked 432 African-American teenagers and their parents to participate in an anonymous survey about their use of ...
Binge Drinking, Pot Could Put Teens' Intellect at Risk: Study
Heavy alcohol and marijuana use puts teenagers at risk for mental deficits that could persist into adulthood, according to a new study.
The researchers found that teens who had abused alcohol and pot scored lower than their abstinent peers on tests measuring a wide range of intellectual abilities.
Robert Thoma, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of ...
Using Drugs to Stay Popular at School
Popularity in school is often established in the first days of kindergarten. Children quickly recognize which of their peers have tennis shoes with the most current licensed character or whose mom brings the fanciest cupcakes for the child’s birthday. As the school years go by, however, there are more complicated factors that go into which ...
Baclofen Shows Promise in Helping Alcoholics with Liver Disease
Baclofen, also known as Lioresal, may be another tool in a growing list of medically-prescribed drugs that can help people recover from alcohol addiction. Research findings show that the drug holds promise for alcoholics, especially in cases of prolonged alcohol abuse that has already led to liver cirrhosis. The drug has been specifically tested in [...] ...
Monday is national 'Eat Dinner with Your Children' day
New Canaan is making a request of its residents next Monday — that families find time to eat dinner together.
“We are trying to promote the idea of families sitting there and spending some time over dinner communicating and talking, without Twitter, Facebook and texting getting in the way,” said Dr. Theresa Bowling of New Canaan, a Health and Human Services Commission member.
“Data ...
Family Dinners Reduce Teen Drug Use
Teens who don't sit down with their families for dinners on a regular basis are much more likely to use alcohol, marijuana, or tobacco, compared to young people who do eat meals with their parents, a new study shows.
A report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) says that, compared to teens who eat dinner with their families five to seven ...
One in five parents feel ill-equipped to prevent kids from trying drugs and alcohol
New York, NY — New survey data from Partnership for a Drug-Free America and MetLife Foundation finds that more than one in five parents feel unable to prevent their kids from trying drugs and alcohol. To help motivate and equip parents to talk with their kids about the dangers of substance abuse, the two organizations are focusing the next phase of their award-winning radio campaign on ...
ONDCP gives $85.6 million to communities to prevent youth drug use
Washington, DC — Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), today announced $22 million in new Drug Free Communities Support Program (DFC) grants to 169 communities and 16 new DFC Mentoring grants across the country. The awards announced today are in addition to the $63 million in Continuation grants simultaneously released to 549 currently funded DFC ...
Are We Powerless to Fight Drug Addiction in our Communities? NOPE. There’s Hope.
When it comes to the fight against drug and alcohol abuse, there’s a new sheriff in town. Over the past few decades, DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) were largely responsible for educating citizens, especially young people, about the dangers of drug abuse, alcoholism, and drinking and driving. Don’t get ...
Drugs, Gangs on the Rise in Schools
The nation's public schools earn a failing grade when it comes to protecting teens from drugs and gang activity, a nationwide survey suggests.
About one in four surveyed teens attending public schools reported the presence of both gangs and drugs at their schools, and 32% of 12- and 13-year-old middle school children said drugs were used, kept, or sold on school grounds -- a 39% increase ...
Kids with addictions can now Reach High
“This would be just the thing!” exclaimed Daney Tanner, coordinator for Reach High School in Casper.
That was her reaction to learning how several Minnesota schools were dealing with students trapped in serious drug and alcohol addiction problems.
“Seven percent of the high school population in Natrona County has either alcohol or drug addictions,” Tanner said, “that means 310 ...
Fewer Young People Exposed to Alcohol Ads in Magazines, but Beer Ads Have Increased
In the United States, most young people begin drinking alcohol at age 13, and every day, more than 5,000 kids under 16 have their first taste of alcohol. With the prevalence of underage drinking, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health decided to look into how many young people are exposed to ...
Youth exposure to alcohol ads in magazines declining
Baltimore, MD — Youth exposure to alcohol advertising in magazines declined by 48 percent between 2001 and 2008, according to a new study by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Although 325 alcohol brands advertised in magazines in 2008, just 16 brands accounted for half of the advertising placed in publications more ...
ED interventions could reduce alcohol abuse among adolescents
Chicago, IL — Brief interventions among adolescents reporting to emergency departments may be associated with a reduction in the experience of peer violence and alcohol misuse in this population, according to a study in the August 4 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on violence and human rights. "The emergency department is an important contact point for medical care for adolescents, especially ...
Use caution: When it comes to alcohol, incoming freshmen should think before drinking
Booze, liquor, alcohol. Whatever you call it, it's all the same.
And during college is when many people begin experimenting with alcohol. Parties and going out to bars can be fun, but there are some things you should know about alcohol before you decide to hit the town. If you do decide to drink while in college, be smart about it by following our tips below and being educated about the ...
Little Progress Has Been Made to Curb Drinking Among College Students
College drinking has been an increasing problem over the last few years, and many public health organizations have made recommendations for steps colleges and college communities can take to help curb problematic drinking. However, a new study by researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health shows that few colleges are actually taking ...
Teen Challenge helps women overcome drugs, alcohol through faith
Erin Mahar grew up dreaming she would someday make a positive difference in the world.
At times in her life, she did just that.
For a while, she served as an AmeriCorps volunteer. She worked alongside her father in the county attorney's office just after high school. She went to church with her family.
But Mahar's life wasn't perfect.
She tried her first drink in eighth ...
Family relationships, religious involvement buffer youth against drug abuse
Columbia, MO — American-Indian adolescents continue to have the highest rates of illicit drug use among all ethnic groups. Although previous research has found that increasing adolescent exposure to protective factors can reduce their risk for substance abuse, this has not been thoroughly examined in American-Indian adolescents. Recent findings from a University of Missouri study reveal ...
Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy Helpful for Teens with Drug Abuse Problems
It is difficult enough for normal teens to respond to peer pressure and frequent changes in emotions; the journey is even harder for teens with substance abuse problems. When teens with drug abuse problems seek treatment, research indicates therapy that involves the whole family may be the best approach. Called multi-dimensional family therapy, or MDFT, [...] ...
Genetics Play a Role in Drug Peer Pressure for Girls
Did you know that whether or not you are likely to give into peer pressure has a lot to do with your genes? According to recent research featured in a Science Daily release, this is a complicated issue for young women. Conducted by Washington University in St. Louis, this research suggests that a young woman [...] ...
New KISD treatment program helps kids 'Stay on Trac'
Students who violate the Keller school district's alcohol policy will have a new option this fall that gets them back in their regular classes and activities more quickly while providing in-depth treatment and counseling.
The new program, Stay on TRAC, places them at the alternative education center for five days, and then allows them to return to their home campus and extra-curricular ...
CDC studies drug and alcohol abuse, sexual activity among teens
A grainy video of the 1999 Columbine massacre plays on a laptop projector in the library at the Andre Agassi Boys and Girls Club.
"You want me to stop right now?" shouts the armed teenager in the video.
Students cower behind chairs and under tables. A girl starts to cry. Then come the shots.
About 30 kids -- some from Las Vegas' roughest neighborhoods, from broken homes, from foster ...
Methamphetamine users have unique treatment needs but typically receive the same type of therapy as those addicted to other drugs, the San Francisco C
Teens consume more alcohol during summers before the new academic session begins in fall, according to an American alcohol researcher.
University of Rhode Island Psychology Professor Mark Wood advises parents to monitor their children - know where they are, whom they are with and what they are doing.
He said: "This type of monitoring, particularly in combination with an emotionally ...
Young people battle prescription drug addiction
Dr. David Ohlms has counseled prescription drug abusers almost every work day for the last 40 years.
For most of his career, his clients were over 40 years old. These days, his oldest addict is 30 and his youngest is 19. Some got hooked as young as 15 and started experimenting with pharmaceuticals at 13.
"There has been a massive increase in younger users," said Ohlms, medical director of ...
Death at Electric Daisy Carnival draws attention to connection between raves and Ecstasy
The suspected drug overdose death of a 15-year old girl who attended a massive rave in Los Angeles last weekend has drawn attention to the drug her family was told was found in her body: Ecstasy.
Officials said use of the hallucinogen and stimulant was widespread among the scores of partygoers taken by ambulance to emergency rooms from the Electric Daisy Carnival, which was held at the Los ...
NEW APPROACH: Treatment center shifts focus to young addicts
The typical addict treated at the Beacon House in Pacific Grove used to be a man in his 40s trying to overcome alcoholism. But that has changed in recent years, as methamphetamine and highly addictive prescription drugs pervade youth culture.
Recognizing this change, leaders of Beacon House in Pacific Grove determined they needed to restructure the rehabilitation facility's treatment ...
Solvang to consider ‘social host’ law
The Solvang City Council is scheduled to consider next week whether to adopt an ordinance that would punish adults who knowingly provide a place where underage drinking occurs.
Advocates of the “social host” ordinance have been trying for about three years to get the law adopted by Santa Barbara County and all of its cities, based on the belief that it will be an effective tool to reduce ...
Parents dealing with kids and addiction offer warning signs
Stealing, overdoses and run-ins with law enforcement.
These are the big, obvious results of addiction to drugs, including prescription medication. But the smaller signs of prescription drug abuse can be hard to detect, according to some parents of Treasure Coast teens and young adults dealing with addiction to narcotic pain pills — especially for parents who grew up in an era when pot or ...
Doctors urged to screen youngsters for alcohol use
Children as young as middle-schoolers should be screened on their use of alcohol, according to Dr. Patricia Kokotailo, director of adolescent medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Kokotailo is the lead author of a policy statement released recently by the Committee on Substance Abuse for the American Academy of Pediatrics. The policy recommends that ...
National Report Reveals Dramatic Pattern Shifts in Admission to Substance Abuse Treatment among Pregnant Teens between 1992 and 2007
A nationwide report issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reveals that from 1992 to 2007 there were significant changes in the patterns of substance abuse treatment admissions among pregnant teens both in terms of the kinds of substances involved and among different ethnic and racial groups.
According to the report, the proportion of pregnant teen ...
Teenagers, others urge harsher punishment for underage drinking
Alcohol is too easy for kids to get and the sanctions against underage drinking are basically meaningless, a group of teenagers told lawmakers here Wednesday.
“For (minor in possession), the first offense is a slap on the wrist,” Helena High senior Lindsey Dowling told the Law and Justice Interim Committee at a daylong meeting on drunken driving and other alcohol-related problems.
The ...
National Study: New Data Show Teen Girls More Likely to See Benefits in Drug and Alcohol Use
Survey data released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America® and MetLife Foundation found that teenage girls are more likely than teenage boys to perceive potential benefits from drug use and drinking, making teen girls more vulnerable to drug and alcohol abuse.
According to a new research analysis of the 2009 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS), sponsored by MetLife ...
Teenage Girls More Likely to be Drug Addicts: Report
Research emerging today is proving that teenage girls are far likelier to relate to the advantages of drinking alcohol and consuming drugs than their male counterparts – meaning that they might ignore the negative side-effects and health warnings which could result in addiction.
The findings come as the Partnership for a Drug-Free America reveals that over 50% of girls believe drugs could ...
Mentoring: How it helps youths faced with drug and alcohol addiction
Youths who face drug and alcohol addiction can see great benefits through a mentorship program. There are many ways in which such a program can be positive for such a youth, including the following.
The mentor can provide a positive role model
Many youngsters who are addicted to drugs and alcohol had parents or relatives with the same issues. Others have counted drug dealers or others ...
New National Study Reveals that 1 in 20 Adolescents with a Serious Respiratory Condition Has Used Potentially Deadly Inhalants in the Past Year
Approximately 143,000 young people aged 12 to 17 used inhalants in the past year while dealing with a condition like pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, or sinusitis, according to a new study sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The study determined that the rate of use was 4.4 percent among adolescents who had at least one of the aforementioned ...
New Report Provides Startling Look at Substance Abuse On An Average Day In The Life Of American Adolescents
On an average day, 508,000 adolescents aged 12-17 in the United States drink alcohol; 641,000 use illicit drugs; and more than 1 million smoke cigarettes, according to a national survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The report, which highlights the substance abuse behavior and addiction treatment activities that occur among adolescents on ...
Adderall – The College Student’s Pill of Choice
While Adderall is an important medication for those suffering with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), there are others who find the medication to be useful for non-medical reasons. According to a recent post in NWTN Today, Adderall is being increasingly abused by college students.In fact, a nationwide survey found that one in four college students ...
Inhalants Found in Household Products Quickly Becoming Teen Drug of Choice
One of the most dangerous drug trends for teens today starts in the kitchen, the garage or even the classroom, with severe consequences many parents don’t even realize.
Inhalants are a drug of choice today for adolescents looking for a rush. They’re easy to get, easy to use and can give a high lasting [...] ...
Report provides look at average daily adolescent substance abuse
Rockville, MD — On an average day, 508,000 adolescents aged 12-17 in the United States drink alcohol; 641,000 use illicit drugs; and more than one million smoke cigarettes, according to a national survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The report, which highlights the substance abuse behavior and addiction treatment activities that occur ...
Speaking young people's language
It took Jack Sinclair six to nine months to earn the trust of many of the young people featured in his powerful video about youth addiction and recovery. Later, 30 hours of footage would be shot, all of which would be reduced to a tightly presented 44-minute video that is winning praise from treatment centers, parents, and mainly from adolescents. To Sinclair, the success of “12” ( ...
NAATP board recounts Hunsicker investigation
At an hour-long “town hall meeting” at this week’s National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) annual conference in San Antonio, NAATP board chair Cathy Palm and the organization’s attorney answered questions from dozens of association members about circumstances surrounding the March 31 suspension and subsequent firing of longtime NAATP President and CEO ...
Addiction Professional wins Gold Award from ASHPE
The American Society of Healthcare Publication Editors (ASHPE) has honored Addiction Professional with a first-place Gold Award in its 2010 Awards Competition. Addiction Professional won the award in the “Best How-To Article” category for “ Treating the High-Functioning Alcoholic ,” published in the magazine’s March/April 2009 issue. The article was written by Sarah ...
Researchers Introduce New Medications to Treat Drug Addiction, Alcoholism
Researchers unveiled the first opioid-blocking, extended-release injectable suspension naltrexone (XR NTX) at the 2010 American Psychiatric Association (APA) Annual Meeting held from May 22–26, 2010 in New Orleans. The pharmaceutical company Alkermes, Inc. discussed new data on XR NTX gathered from company-sponsored studies that revealed its significant potential for combating alcohol and ...
When Your Loved One Wants to Leave Treatment
Treatment for addiction is hard work. Depending on the type of addiction, and in cases in which there are co-occurring disorders and multiple addictions, it is harder for some than for others. In all cases, however, there’s a critical tipping point that loved ones and supporters of the addict need to look out for. ...
Symposium on the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
URAC, a national healthcare accreditation and education organization, and Hayes, Inc., a health technology research and consulting company, announce a two-day symposium "The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act: Implications for All Stakeholders" to be held June 23-24, 2010, in Baltimore, MD. ...
Why Do People Become Alcohol-Dependent? Researchers to Probe Brain Receptors
A research team at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is targeting the brainâs opiate receptor system in trying to answer the age-old question of why some people can remain social drinkers while others who drink develop serious alcohol problems. ...
Research Uncovers Link Between Substance Use, Frequent Indoor Tanning
New research suggests that high levels of substance use among young adults may increase the likelihood of problematic levels of indoor tanning, perhaps because of a similar addictive process for the two behaviors. ...
Mice can synthesize their own morphine, research shows
Traces of morphine in urine samples have been considered a clear proof of drug use or the consumption of food containing poppy in the past. Now a study by a team of scientists in Germany and the U.S. points to another possible explanation: they managed for the first time to prove that mice -- and probably humans and other mammals as well -- produce their own morphine in their bodies. ...
Researchers develop technique to visualize 'your brain on drugs'
Researchers at the US Department of Energy have developed an imaging protocol that allows them to visualize the activity of the brain's reward circuitry in both normal individuals and those addicted to drugs. ...
What If Your Loved Ones Cannot Forgive Your Addiction
Coming back from the cycle of addiction is a long and tough road. Not only does it take a lot of courage and determination, but it’s physically and mentally taxing as well. When you’ve finished your treatment and are in recovery, you really need the love, support and encouragement of your loved ones to help ...
