Posts Tagged teen drug abuse

Teen Behaviors May Be Influenced by their Friends’ Parents

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Raising Healthy Kids on May 15th, 2012

A new study suggests that a teen’s behavior towards drinking, smoking and drug use may not only be influenced by their peers but also by their peers’ parents as well.

teen friendsStudy author Michael Cleveland from the Penn State University said that while teens are learning to choose their set of friends, parents should not be far behind in making sure that their kids’ friends also have responsible parents. There is a relationship between a teen and the behavior and attitude of his friends’ parents.

“Among friendship groups with ‘good parents’ there’s a synergistic effect — if your parents are consistent and aware of your whereabouts, and your friends’ parents are also consistent and aware of their (children’s) whereabouts, then you are less likely to use substances,” Cleveland said.

Children with parents who refuse to deal with the issue of substance abuse and at the same time belonging in a circle with friends under the same condition will more likely to go the wrong way.

The study was done with about 9,000 students from rural school districts in the 9th grade. The research team were able to identify almost 900 groups from the participants classified as to who their friends are and the parents of their chosen peers. After a year, the groups were surveyed and allowed to answer questions on alcohol, cigarette and marijuana use.

It was found out that teens with parents who regularly check on them and know their activities were less likely to get involved in drugs or alcohol use. Yet having friends with parents that are not aware of their kids’ whereabouts and activities significantly influenced the teen’s decision on the said issues despite having “good parents.”

The complete results of the study can be found in the latest issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

No Comments

Marijuana Use Among Teens Increases

Posted by Drug Free in Marijuana Use and Abuse, Prescription Drug Abuse on May 14th, 2012

While the use of cocaine and methamphetamine among teens may have stabilized in the last few years, pot use is on the rise. In a new study released by The Partnership at Drugfree.org, one in every ten kids is smoking marijuana at least 20 times within a month. Students between the 9th and 12th grades are also experimenting with prescription drugs.

smoking potThe situation elevated due to the fact that most parents think that weed is just weed, no cause for alarm. Yet Partnership President Steve Pasierb said that parents should not take the issue of marijuana for granted. “Parents are talking about cocaine and heroin, things that scare them. Parents are not talking about prescription drugs and marijuana. They can’t wink and nod. They need to be stressing the message that this behavior is unhealthy.”

The report showed that marijuana use has increased from only 19% in 2008 to about 27% in 2011. Teens who smoked pot at least 20 times in a month also climbed from 5% in 2008 to last year’s 9%. That’s about 1.5 million teens who regularly light up marijuana.

Previous researches made also had parallel results, like that of a recent survey made by a team from the University of Michigan. The initiative was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse that claimed marijuana use is again on the rise after a decline in the last decade.

Results of the study have linked the use of pot and other drugs. It was suggested that teens who regularly use marijuana were also twice more likely to take cocaine or ecstasy.

The study also tackled the issue of pain medications abuse, putting Vicodin and Oxycontin as the drug of choice among teens. It was also noted that ecstasy or cocaine use is highest among Hispanic teens (almost 50%). African American teens followed suit with almost 42% hooked on prescription medications while that of Caucasian teens reached 39%.

No Comments

Parents, Teens Gather to Talk About Drug and Alcohol Use

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction on May 10th, 2012

The Trackside Teen Center was packed with parents and students during the Wilton Youth Council’s Community Conversation held last April 25.

teen alcohol abuseThis is the third time that the council had the event where the latest survey and reviews with regards to teen substance abuse was tackled.

Board of Education member and director of the Partnership for Success Grant at Positive Directions Lory Rothstein presented the most recent results of the online survey participated in by 883 students from the 7th to 12th grades and 446 parents from the 6th to 12th grades.

So far, this is their largest sample ever handled with the number of students accounting for 45% of the total population in the respective levels.

The report put the spotlight on alcohol, drugs, and tobacco and marijuana use among students. It was noted that there was a decrease in the use of the said substances yet the average for alcohol use is still a little over than the national average; 12th graders who admit to alcohol intake within the past 30 days was below 50%.

The relationship between alcohol and marijuana use was also discussed. The Youth Council has long named alcohol as a “gateway drug” and statistics seem to agree with them. An alarming 27.9% of students confess to drinking and smoking marijuana with only 0.7% saying they never tried any of the two substances. From the teen drinking population, 35% also owned up to pot use.

Guest Speaker for the forum Chris Brown said that a teen’s brain is not at all the same as an adult’s brain. Brown, who is a school psychologist and licensed professional counselor, made it clear to everybody that a teen’s brain’s reward center is extra sensitive compared to adults’ which makes them more vulnerable to addiction.

Mr. Brown also added that teens are not fully prepared to make the right decisions and acknowledge the consequences of their actions all the time as their brains aren’t fully developed yet.

No Comments

Teen Drug Abuse: Parents’ Common Mistakes (Part 2)

Posted by Drug Free in Raising Healthy Kids on May 5th, 2012

Here are the rest of the items on the list of common mistakes made by parents pertaining to substance abuse.

6. Equating smartness with maturity

Substance abuse does not exempt even the smartest of kids. Just because a child is intelligent, it does not necessarily equate to matured decision-making skills especially on issues related to substance abuse. Experts have said that fully matured and responsible judgments only happen when a person reaches the mid 20’s.

mother talking to teen7. Failure to acknowledge the changes in a child

The most obvious signs that kids are into some kind of addiction are manifested physically, mentally and emotionally. Parents should be on the lookout for any changes in their child’s behavior. A decline in academic standings, loss of weight, poor personal hygiene, changes in sleep pattern and mood swings may be indicators that something is wrong.

8. Allowing kids to have easy access on medicine cabinets at home

Prescription drug abuse has become one of the fastest growing types of substance abuse in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report claiming that one in every five teenagers get their “high” from prescription painkillers which they surprisingly get from other family members and friends.

It should be a practice at every home to properly dispose of medications that are not needed anymore and that medicine cabinets should be secured. Other household substances such as solvents and aerosols should also be kept away from kids.

9.  Refusing to get help

Substance abuse can be treated especially at the earliest stages. It is estimated that over 2 million teens are in need of treatment to get over their addictions, but only 150,000 are able to get the help that they need. As most experts advise parents, prevention and early intervention are key to putting kids back on the right track.

10. Doing it (substance abuse) themselves

Parents have always been the role models of their kids. Showing them the right behavior and attitude on substance abuse can make a big difference in their decisions.

No Comments

Dealing with Teen Drug Abuse: Parents’ Common Mistakes (Part 1)

Posted by Drug Free in Raising Healthy Kids on May 4th, 2012

A 2009 government survey in the United States showed that one in every ten kids aged 12 to 17 years old is hooked on drugs.

This figure has increased over the past few years to make drug abuse one of the top problems that parents are faced with. Yet parents aren’t left helpless when it comes to this issue as addiction specialists like Dr. Joseph Lee from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry lists the common mistakes parents make when dealing with drug abuse.

parents talking to teen1. Expectations are not set.

Dr. Lee suggests that parents should make their expectations clear on the issue of substance abuse to their kids at the soonest possible time. Studies have shown that kids are less likely to use drugs if they know that their parents condemn it.

2. Denying mental health issues.

If a child is diagnosed with mental health issues like depression, ADHD, or anxiety, the risks for substance abuse are high. Parents should not disregard these problems because, most often than not, mental health issues and substance abuse can happen simultaneously to kids.

3. Not coming clean on your own issues.

Parents should come clean with their own past experiences of drug abuse. While it could prove to be an awkward and uncomfortable discussion, it’s one of the best ways to discourage children from taking drugs by sharing your own horrific situations in the past.

4. Feeling guilty for your child’s problem.

Nobody’s perfect so parents should stop blaming themselves or their spouses once their kids get into trouble. This will only aggravate the situation and will separate families in times when unity and teamwork is most wanted to solve the problem.

5. Ignoring kids’ experimentation with drugs.

Assuming that there’s nothing wrong with kids who play around with drugs and alcohol can be the heaviest mistake parents could ever make. Experimenting with drugs and alcohol should never form part of any stage in a child’s development.

No Comments

Drug Abuse Linked to Brain Networks Among Teens

Posted by Drug Free in Alcohol Abuse, Drug Addiction, Tobacco Abuse on May 3rd, 2012

A new study conducted by the researchers from the University of Vermont could shed light on the issue as to why teenagers behave differently towards substance abuse.

brain scanThe proponents of the study gathered 1,896 14-year-old participants, the largest sample so far for a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning procedure. The participants were given the task to press a button on a keyboard, but researchers would insert a signal at anytime for the duration of the test that commands the participants to stop the task. The brain’s reaction to the stop signal is used to measure a teen’s impulsive behavior.

Data gathered from the study were analyzed and the differences in the brain networks were noted to cause varying impulsive behaviors of the teens. Participants who were able to follow the cue to stop had certain brain networks “light up” on the fMRI scan.

University of Vermont post-doctoral researcher Robert Whelan said that a teen’s impulsive behavior dictates their susceptibility for drug and alcohol abuse and that there are differences as to how a teen’s brain react or “light up” as far as their impulsiveness is concerned.

It was also confirmed by Dr. Hugh Gravan, associate professor of psychiatry, that those whose brain networks function less on the impulse-regulating factor increase their risks for smoking and drugs and alcohol use.

The results of the study could be the answer to the question of whether brain changes occur before substance abuse happens or are caused by the unhealthy habits.

In a feature from CBS News, the team of scientists from the university emphasized the importance of studying brain networks to understand a teen’s risk for substance abuse. This could be a key to hopefully put a stop on meaningless deaths among the youth which are often linked to impulsive behaviors that are all preventable.

No Comments