Various schools around the U.S. have lined up extravagant goodies, such as brand new cars, iPads, and college scholarships, in the hope of attracting teens to attend supervised, alcohol-free events after their annual high school proms.

According to Reuters, the prizes are sometimes provided by local businesses while others are purchased through parent-led fundraising.

In Roanoke, Virginia, one student will be given a new 2013 Nissan Juke and two others will get iPads.

“Research shows that if they stay to the end of the after-prom party, they are more likely to be alcohol- and drug-free,” said Kathy Sullivan, the director of the Roanoke group.

In Pennsylvania, one high school student will drive away a black Honda Civic just for going to a supervised after-prom party. In Derby, Kansas, a high school booked an entire amusement park for its after-prom party.

Meanwhile, Allen High School in Allen, Texas gave away eight $250-worth of scholarships, several computers, a party for 20 at a local barbecue restaurant and tickets to a Texas Rangers baseball game.

At the Johnson City, New York, students have a chance to get microwaves, laptops and television sets. On top of that, attending students will be given a suitcase with $100 worth of merchandise.

According to the latest substance abuse campaign launched by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) officials, children as young as 9 years old should already have basic understanding about the dangers of alcohol abuse.

SAMHSA introduced this week the “Talk. They Hear You.” in conjunction with the 2013 National Prevention Week—an annual health observance dedicated to increasing awareness of, and action around, substance abuse and mental health issues. Its goal is to equip parents with information they need to help them start a conversation about alcohol with their children before their children become teenagers.

“These young people are our future leaders—our future teachers, mayors, doctors, parents, and entertainers,” SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde said in a news release.  “As our youth and young adults face challenges, we as a community, need to effectively communicate with them in every way possible about the risks of underage drinking so that they have the necessary tools to make healthy and informed choices.”

SAMHSA’s recently released report on underage drinking shows that more than a quarter of American youth engage in underage drinking. Even though there has been progress in reducing the extent of underage drinking in recent years, particularly among those aged 17 and younger, the rates of underage drinking are still unacceptably high.

“Talk. They Hear You.” features a series of TV, radio, and print PSAs in English and Spanish. The PSAs encourage parents to introduce alcohol-related discussions with kids while preparing dinner or doing chores together. Such opportunities are deemed more natural and help kids become comfortable in expressing their own views about alcohol drinking.

According to doctors at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the aspirated cinnamon “entering the upper airways can cause inflammation and, in more severe cases, aspiration pneumonia.”

“… the fibers and other components of cinnamon can also cause allergic and irritant reactions, including acute symptoms and temporary, if not permanent, lung function changes,” the doctors wrote in their report Ingesting and Aspirating Dry Cinnamon by Children and Adolescents: The ”Cinnamon Challenge” which was published on the journal Pediatrics.

In 2011, the U.S. American Association of Poison Control Centers received more than 50 calls related to the Cinnamon Challenge. In the first half of 2012, there were 178 such calls and 122 of which were classified as intentional misuse or abuse, and at least 30 teens required medical evaluation.

The large Internet presence and peer pressure are what have increased the popularity of Cinnamon Challenge. In the first six months of 2012, Google hits on the topic reached 2.4 million and then there’s also the frequent mentions of the challenge in social networking sites, such as Twitter, the report explained.

To address the problem, the doctors recommend schools and health care professionals to be more proactive in discussing to children the possible harmful effects of Cinnamon Challenge.

“… pediatricians and parents have a ‘challenge’ of their own in counseling tweens and teens regarding the sensibilities of the choices they make and the potential health risks of this dare,” the doctors suggested. “Counseling can modify risk behaviors related to peer pressure, such as preventing tobacco and alcohol use, pregnancy, and exposure to sexually transmitted diseases.”

Tammy Walsh, who has a son in recovery from OTC medicine abuse, has come forward to use her experiences to help others. Welsh hopes to be an inspiration so people stand up and speak out about OTC abuse. A group called, The Five Moms, is the group that Welsh advocates for. They travel the country making people and parents aware of the risks and dangers of OTC drug abuse. They teach entire communities about abusing cough medicine, how parents should approach their teens, how to monitor medications, and the true scope of the problem.

Welsh says the most important things for parents to remember is never to lecture teens as they will tune you out. Rather help them make healthy decisions. Start talking to kids early on and don’t be afraid to bring the subject up. Teach your kids how to say no and give them every tool needed to do so. Be clear about the health risks associated with drug abuse.

Welsh says that parents must know how to spot the signs of abuse. They need to know what to look for, some of the slang, and a change in habits or patterns.

Teens call the act of abusing over the counter drugs “robotripping” or “skittling” and some teens actively look for substances they can use to get high in the medicine cabinets of their homes where adults just see medicine that is virtually harmless. Many teens today are abusing these very drugs. They can be addictive and dangerous if abused.

A study from 2012, out of the University of Cincinnati indicated that ten percent of middle and high school students had said that they have abused over-the-counter drugs. The most commonly abused OTC drugs included Dextromethorphan, which is found in cough syrups and decongestants.

When children are taught about substance abuse dangers the conversation must include a lot more than just discussing illicit drugs, prescription drugs, and alcohol. Children really need to know that a plethora of trouble lurks right in their medicine cabinet at home. In fact, while parents are putting a lock on the liquor cabinet they should also be putting one on the medicine cabinet too.

Drugfree.org says that when parents teach their children about the risks of OTC drugs they are half as likely to use them.

This article was contributed by Klean Treatment Center.

But what is it about peer pressure that forces someone to engage in risky behaviors? Why does it matter so much, especially in adolescents?

The truth of the matter is, peer pressure happens to everyone of us at some point in our lives. Some are good peer pressure, but many can be identified as negative peer pressure.

In his book Living with Peer Pressure and Bullying, Dr. Thomas Paul Tarshis defined peer pressure as the influence of other people’s perceptions on your decisions or actions. It can enter our lives in several different ways, such as in the form of comments made by classmates or peers outside of school; exposure to material items; and the pressure to perform certain behaviors.

With teenagers, peer pressure is deemed important because the choice made when dealing with it influences the success or failure of their future. As a teenager, the opinions of your friends and classmates in your choice of clothes, music or school becomes more important than that of your parents. The same goes for the more serious topics, such as drugs, alcohol, and sexual activity.

Dr. Tarshis explained some of the reasons why teens are forced to give in to negative peer pressures, which include the concern of losing a friend or making a new one; the concern about being teased; the fear of being left out or being bullied. Some teens who may feel that the consequences of not giving in to peer pressure are worse than feeling guilty about doing something that’s wrong.

Teens who are at higher risk of giving in to peer pressure are those who have poor self-esteem and confidence; poor family support; lack of hobbies or interests; lack of friends; and poor school performance. Kids who just moved to a new school or city are also vulnerable to giving in to peer pressure for the sake of gaining approval and acceptance.

According to the researchers from the University of Toronto, children of divorced parents are at higher risk to develop smoking habit.

The researchers analyzed data of more than 19,000 American adults, and found that men who experienced parental divorce before they turned 18 are at 48 percent greater risk of smoking. Meanwhile, women who experienced parental divorce before turning 18 were 39 percent more likely to smoke than women from intact families.

“Finding this link between parental divorce and smoking is very disturbing,” lead author Esme Fuller-Thomson, Sandra Rotman Chair at University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, said in a university news release.

The researchers anticipated that the association between smoking and parental divorce can be explained by one or more of the following factors: lower levels of education or adult income among the children of divorce; adult mental health issues (e.g. depression or anxiety among the children of divorce); or other co-occurring early childhood traumas, such as parental addictions or childhood physical, sexual or emotional abuse.

Upon examining a representative sample of 7,850 men and 11,506 women aged 18 and over, the researchers found that more than 1,500 men and more than 2,300 women had experienced their parents’ divorce before they reached the age of 18. A total of 4,316 men and 5,072 women reported that they had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their life.

The data analyzed by the researchers were drawn from the Center for Disease Control’s 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey.

Co-author Joanne Filippelli, a University of Toronto doctoral student, said it is possible that “children upset by their parents” divorce may use smoking as a coping mechanism to regulate emotions and stress. Some research suggests this calming effect may be particularly attractive to those who have suffered early adversities.”

An October 2012 campus survey conducted by the University of Michigan revealed that 27.8 percent of female undergraduates, 11.8 percent of male undergraduates, 21.5 percent of female graduate students, and 10.3 percent of male graduate students on campus were found to have eating disorders. But what is even more alarming is that 82 percent of women and 96 percent of men who are struggling with an eating disorder have not received treatment in the past year.

The researchers found that students who diet regularly dislike their bodies, fear gaining weight and seldom seek help for eating disorders.

But if you think the problem stops there, think again, because eating disorders can be a culprit in a person’s substance abuse problems.

The 2003 study, titled Food for Thought: Substance Abuse and Eating Disorders, conducted by The National Center on Addictions and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that people with eating disorders are up to five times more likely to abuse alcohol or illicit drugs and those who abuse alcohol or illicit drugs are up to 11 times more likely to have eating disorders.

High school girls with eating disorders are at greater risk to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or use drugs than those without eating disorders. Similarly, girls who smoke, drink or use drugs are at higher risk to report past month eating disorder symptoms than those who do not have substance abuse issues.

The study concluded that individuals with eating disorders abuse caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin and over-the-counter medications such as diuretics, emetics or laxatives to suppress appetite, increase metabolism and purge themselves.

Marci Warhaft, the woman behind Fit vs. Fiction, knows exactly what makes kids today so obssessed with their appearance and the need to look good.

“It seems like you can’t flip open a magazine or turn on the TV without being inundated with images of impossibly beautiful, seemingly flawless women,” Warhaft explained. “As a result, so many young girls feel like they just don’t measure up and become desperate to change the way they look, even at the risk of damaging their health through risky weight loss behaviours. The same goes for the boys. I hear from boys as young as nine years old who are completely ashamed of their bodies because they don’t have the chiselled abs or bulging bicep muscles they see on actors on tv or at the movies.”

It’s common knowledge that many boys who want to beef up their bodies would rather take the easy route, that is, using anabolic steroids. But while steroids really help in improving strength and muscles, they are also associated with negative side effects, such as baldness, increased risk of prostate cancer, infertility, acne, bloated appearance, swelling of feet and ankles, and penile enlarged, to name a few. That’s not all; steroids users may eventually experience depression, irritability, anxiety, delusions, and other psychological problems.

Warhaft emphasized the importance of fostering a healthy environment at home. She said parents and children should be able to discuss weight issues at home as openly and honestly as possible. Encouraging the kids to become physically active is also a good way to help kids maintain a HEALTHY look as opposed to the kind of appearance they see among movie stars.

“Our fitness goals shouldn’t be about fitting into skinny jeans or a string bikini, but should be about FEELING strong and healthy,” Warhaft added. “We need to get our kids involved in activities that help them appreciate the amazing things their bodies can DO, so they won’t become preoccupied with how they look.”

Kelly Nettnin, public health education coordinator with Dare County DPH, offered a handful of tips on how parents can prevent kids from using alcohol and drugs. Like other health experts, she agrees that substance abuse can strike to any family, and the temptation of drugs can present itself even to the well-raised kids.

“You can do absolutely everything right as a parent and still have a child develop those problems,” the Sentinel quoted Nettnin as saying.

But Nettnin stressed the importance of communication in helping kids make sound choices, as well as spotting signs of substance abuse. She explained that parental involvement, such as making connection with your kids’ friends and their parents, can go a long way in determining the kind of crowd your kids hang out with.

Additionally, parents are encouraged to “monitor their children’s use of the internet, which is often used to purchase illicit substances.”

“If your kid is on Facebook,” Nettnin emphasized, “I highly recommend that you are on Facebook and that you stalk them.”

To foster effective communication within the family, parents should learn to speak on the child’s level, and maintain an ongoing conversation about substance abuse and the dangers associated with it.

Other tips for effective communication include:

• asking open ended questions
• evaluating your dialogue
• remembering that teens are capable of making mature, responsible decisions with the support of parental guidance
• eating dinner around the table together with no TV or cell phones at least five times a week

“When your child does come to you with a problem,” Nettnin added, “do not overreact. Try to keep your cool. They’ll be more likely to come to you later.”

Other strategies parents can do to prevent kids from getting into drugs are:

• encouraging the child to get involved in extracurricular activities
• being an active part of their life
• setting clear and consistent standards and rules
• enforcing positive attitude toward school
• fostering a healthy sense of self
• encouraging positive attitude toward school
• maintaining a safe and health-promoting environment

Nettnin noted that parents should be absolutely clear on their position on drug and alcohol use by communicating their attitudes and values, and confronting the child with facts, not judgment.

“If your child asks if you used alcohol or drugs, remember that the issue isn’t your past, but your child’s future,” Nettnin shares. “Your job as a parent is not to make sure your child likes you – it’s to make sure he makes it to 18 years of age alive and healthy and well.”

In Los Angeles, a 14-year-old girl reportedly died this week after inhaling a computer keyboard cleaner. Drug experts believe inhaling toxic substances, or huffing, is a growing trend in kids these days, and many parents are unaware that many household products can be the culprit.

“It was really scary to read that and really sad, because i know with inhalants, with that and really sad, because i know with inhalants, wit that young lady and it may be the first time she’s ever done…it totally changes your body’s ability to asphyxiate yourself and you could die the very first time,”  Mike Gemar, Canyon Ridge High School Vice-Principal, told KMVT.

Gemar knows a lot about inhalants because he attended training on it, and one of the important things he learned is how inhalants can affect the brain and the central nervous system. Unfortunately, at least 1 in 5 kids inhale some type of chemical or toxic substance before reaching 8th grade.

Given this information, Canyon Ridge High School is stepping up its fight against substance abuse by educating students as young as 8th graders about inhalants. There are also available resources on campus to help students make informed decisions about drug use and abuse.

Brady Dickinson, the principal at Canyon Ridge, said their students study the dangers of drug use as part of the health curriculum. Similarly, the effects of substance abuse, both short- and long-term, are shared to the students to raise awareness.

Inhalants are considered drugs under the school district’s policy. Dickinson adds that the policy is aimed at preventing kids from using drugs and educating them about their health.

Not Being Clear with Your Stance on Drugs
Adolescence is that time when kids face too much pressure from friends and it is when teens want to establish a solid sense of belongingness. It’s when they get more opportunities to socialize with different kinds of people because they no longer cling on you like they do when they were younger. Naturally, it’s also that time when they have higher chances of meeting people who would invite them to try drugs and indulge in alcohol. That said, you must be able to clearly communicate with them your position on drugs and alcohol. If you show them it’s acceptable to experiment with banned substances, the more likely they will use drugs and alcohol.  So it’s best to set firm rules and expectations, but at the same time make them feel comfortable talking to you about substance abuse issues and that they can ask you questions without the fear of being outrightly suspected or judged.

Not Walking Your Talk
Fact is, parents have the tendency to preach. The problem begins when parents do not practice what they preach. Kids are always curious and if you’re smoking marijuana and you go through a list of the dangers of substance abuse, might as well prepare a good explanation on how come your actions are not in keeping with your words.

Studies show that children of parents who abuse drugs are at greater risk of going through the same problem later in life. Abide by your own rules and demonstrate to your kids how you value them by spending quality time with them. The more kids feel the attention of their parents, the less likely they are to seek such attention from other people, who for all you know, may lead your child to the path of addiction.

Assuming Changes as Part of Being a Teenager
As we all know, there are certain changes that can occur when people reach their adolescence. However, if you are involved in your child’s day-to-day life, you will know whether the behavorial or physical changes you observed were still part of the transition or something else. For example, sudden weight loss or gain, increased energy and strength, and neglect to personal hygiene may signal substance abuse problem. Still, you can’t be sure until you have a conversation with your child, right?

A Brigham Young University study showed that monitoring your child’s activities play an important role in preventing drug use. Worried that your child would accuse you of invading their privacy? Not so, because teens are still at the stage where they can make plenty of bad choices and your guidance will mean a lot for them.