If you’re one of those parents who thinks her teen would never in a million years use drugs, and you cite her straight-A report card and extracurricular activities as proof, you could be making a dangerous assumption. Forty-nine percent of 12th graders have at least tried an illicit substance. Even good students and well-rounded teenagers…
Binge drinking, a form of alcohol consumption geared toward the rapid attainment of legal intoxication, is a relatively common and seriously harmful behavior among older teenagers and younger adults in the U.S. In a study published in September 2014 in the journal Substance Abuse, a team of Italian and British researchers investigated the potential usefulness…
Alcohol control strategies are techniques and approaches used to limit the risks for involvement in patterns of drinking that significantly boost exposure to serious alcohol-related harm. The individual can implement some of these strategies, while others come from governments, public health organizations or other private or public institutions. In a study published in 2014 in…
Underage drinking was the focus of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence’s (NCADD) 2014 Alcohol Awareness Month, held in April. During the event, various agencies worked together to promote public awareness and understanding, as well as launching efforts to reduce stigma, provide information about the risks of alcohol consumption, and promote treatment options…
Alicia is a bright high school sophomore who’s frequently teased because she’s overweight. Josh is a junior; the science nerd who excels in academics but silently struggles to fit in socially. Sarah is a pretty senior who’s liked by everyone and bound for a top notch college. Zach, a junior, is an introverted athlete who…
Graduation is an exciting time in the lives of teens as well as in the lives of their parents. Like other important rites of passage, such as going to prom or getting a driver’s license, reaching the milestone of completing high school or college is often accompanied by intense feelings of excitement. For many teens,…
Introducing alcohol to kids aged 18 and younger can be dangerous. In addition, contrary to what some parents may believe, allowing young people to consume alcohol does not provide any supposed benefits. This is according to a recent study that cautions parents to keep alcohol away from their children as it can lead to struggles…
According to an extensive 2008 study, teens ages 12 to 17 showed the highest percent of drug use with just over 60 percent surveyed saying they had a dependence issue with an illicit drug. The 18 to 25 age group reported a dependence rate of 37 percent while people 26 and older were dependent at…
No parent wants their children to use drugs or alcohol, yet they may be doing and saying things (or not saying them) which affect their children’s attitudes toward substances in surprising ways. Without realizing it, parents can be influencing their children toward a more accepting attitude about drugs and alcohol. Here are some pitfalls for…
Alcohol is the substance most frequently abused by teenagers in America. According to medical reports, 14 percent of teens admit to having been drunk at least once in the past 12 months. Eight percent of teens who drink, binge drink, meaning they consume five or more drinks at one sitting.