How to recognize teen drug use

As parents, we say that we want to know everything about our children but we are often uncomfortable or choose to ignore certain attitudes and behaviors in hopes of preserving peace in the family. We rationalize to ourselves that it is just a phase our teenagers are going through and will grow out of. By doing this we often overlook the warning signs that identify teen drug use.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>How to Recognize the Signs of Teen Drug Use</strong></span><br /><ol><li>Observe the appearance and personal hygiene of your teen. Consider whether it has changed. Drug abusers often stop caring about their appearance and personal hygiene.</li><li>Monitor school grades of your teen. Drug abusers lose the ability to focus and their grades begin to drop.</li><li>Question unexplained weight loss in your teen. Drug abusers often experience weight loss. Determine if your child has been ill or recently began a new physical activity or diet. If not, weight loss is certainly a cause for concern.</li><li>Discover who your teen is friends with. Drug abusers often change friends because their old friends don't understand or approve of their drug use.</li><li>Examine the spending habits of your teen. Ask yourself if your teen suddenly needs extra money for lunch, school activities and such. Drug abusers can never get enough and need more and more money to support their habit.</li><li>Scrutinize any sneaky, deceptive behavior of your teen, like lying about where she is going and who she is with. Drug abusers know that drug use in unacceptable, especially to parents so they try to hide any and all evidence.</li></ol><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tips & Warnings:</span></strong><br /><ul><li>If any of these warning signs seem to apply to your teen it is time for you, as a parent, to take a closer look.</li><li>If several of these warning signs apply to your teen, intervention is necessary immediately.</li><li>Teen drug use often begins months, or even years, before parents actually become aware of it.</li><li>The consequences of teen drug use can be devastating, possibly even fatal.</li></ul>

How to recognize teen drug use

As parents, we say that we want to know everything about our children but we are often uncomfortable or choose to ignore certain attitudes a...

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Tips for Middle School Aged Youth on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs

<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyYD0KPXxApjZzAD99XzeuASmaLltBWr7rYXSS4RKWHOQ18qSRIq7GqUgfBCMrYScZW_X9YCQBZAocE4ivR18hkkR6bH8GcZe0M9KmDLIX4EV9zZBUqYgtYOc_YN97ZlzdLy_OH5WWvwF/s1600/article-page-main_ehow_images_a07_iv_4o_reasons-drug-testing-middle-schools-800x800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyYD0KPXxApjZzAD99XzeuASmaLltBWr7rYXSS4RKWHOQ18qSRIq7GqUgfBCMrYScZW_X9YCQBZAocE4ivR18hkkR6bH8GcZe0M9KmDLIX4EV9zZBUqYgtYOc_YN97ZlzdLy_OH5WWvwF/s200/article-page-main_ehow_images_a07_iv_4o_reasons-drug-testing-middle-schools-800x800.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The year your child enters middle school or junior high school is both an exciting and a challenging time. They are little fish in a big pond and often want desperately to fit in. Because your children may now see older students using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and may think they are cool and self-assured, your children may be tempted to try drugs too.<br /><br /><div> </div>Drug use goes up dramatically in the first year of middle school or junior high.<br /><br /><div> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>To help your children make good choices during this critical phase, you should:</strong></div><br /><ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Make sure they are well-versed in the reasons to avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs;</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Get to know their friends by taking them to and from after-school activities, games, the library and movies (while being sensitive to their need to feel independent);</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Volunteer for activities where you can observe your child at school; and</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Get acquainted with the parents of your children’s friends and learn about their children’s interests and habits. If it seems that your child is attracted to those with bad habits, reiterate why drug use is unacceptable.</li></ul><br /><div> </div><strong>To make sure that your child’s life is structured in such a way that drugs have no place in it, you should:</strong><br /><ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If possible, arrange to have your children looked after and engaged in the after-school hours if you cannot be with them. Encourage them to get involved with reputable youth groups, arts, music, sports, community service and academic clubs.</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVjFb2g1Kke3PWLJ9aGDCyqsa5_sZdfwf_7WyKEyktczf1L-O1dG1AtAQS0bNb6IrDoYBiX8IRkKvMgW3XFYY9kWLRB8iNCNm4uONTFMkNDsPG2ytjT8qZvoYiWcqp_xz9REVpyCZVWPO/s1600/young-boy-w-pills-having-lunch-at-school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVjFb2g1Kke3PWLJ9aGDCyqsa5_sZdfwf_7WyKEyktczf1L-O1dG1AtAQS0bNb6IrDoYBiX8IRkKvMgW3XFYY9kWLRB8iNCNm4uONTFMkNDsPG2ytjT8qZvoYiWcqp_xz9REVpyCZVWPO/s200/young-boy-w-pills-having-lunch-at-school.jpg" width="200" /></a>Make sure children who are unattended for periods during the day feel your presence. Give them a schedule and set limits on their behavior. Give them household chores to accomplish. Enforce a strict phone-in-to-you policy. Leave notes for them around the house. Provide easy-to-find snacks.</li><li>Get to know the parents of your child’s friends. Exchange phone numbers and addresses. Agree to forbid each others’ children from consuming alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in their homes, and pledge that you will inform each other if one of you becomes aware of a child who violates this pact. </li><li> Call parents whose home is to be used for a party. Make sure they can assure you that no alcoholic beverages or illegal substances will be dispensed. Don’t be afraid to check out the party yourself to see that adult supervision is in place. </li><li>Make it easy for your child to leave a place where substances are being used. Discuss with your child in advance how to contact you or another designated adult in order to get a ride home. If another adult provides the transportation, be available to talk to your child about the situation when he or she arrives home. </li><li>Set curfews and enforce them. Weekend curfews might range from 9 p.m. for a fifth-grader to 12:30 a.m. for a senior in high school. </li><li>Encourage open dialogue with your children about their experiences. Tell your child, “I love you and trust you, but I don’t trust the world around you, and I need to know what’s going on in your life so I can be a good parent to you.”</li></ul>

Tips for Middle School Aged Youth on Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs

The year your child enters middle school or junior high school is both an exciting and a challenging time. They are little fish in a big pon...

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Parent Tips: Competing with your child's friends!

How as a parent can you compete with what “cool” friends dictate? Peer pressure can impact many areas of your child’s life, from how to dress, what brand of clothes to wear, or what new electronics are must haves. The potentially harmful peer pressure such as drug, alcohol, gang activity and other criminal activities is something everyone from teen to parent will have to deal with.<br /><br /><br /><div></div>Complications to the experience for parents can occur when they do not understand the depths to which these pressures go.<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><strong>The use of Cigarettes and Alcohol</strong><br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cigarettes and alcohol will most likely be some of the first areas in which a teenager will face peer pressure. The constant exposure facing teens through media which glamorizes smoking and drinking in movies and television can cause a desensitization of the stigma associated with smoking and drinking. Because of this imagery bombardment many teenagers are shown only the more enjoyable, sometimes fun sides of these habits, rarely are they exposed to the negative sides of alcohol and tobacco. 40% of high school students have tried cigarettes.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dZkpDKXkYA_i-MEk7JPBdlAbD_W_n65pWyS5-pxg8f5J4kojv6zGcNx_N0rfMrF6Nd7GgRxNQPWnlZpafKUNJOvUVgRtAiSz1w6R7VasaUH5DU_qyRZE9KGxAXYN0B0rdmca9ZyxbStL/s1600/teenager-smoking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2dZkpDKXkYA_i-MEk7JPBdlAbD_W_n65pWyS5-pxg8f5J4kojv6zGcNx_N0rfMrF6Nd7GgRxNQPWnlZpafKUNJOvUVgRtAiSz1w6R7VasaUH5DU_qyRZE9KGxAXYN0B0rdmca9ZyxbStL/s200/teenager-smoking.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div></div>High school years are very competitive and where your teenager stands on the “it” scale with the rest of his/her peers is very important to any teen. To be considered a “loser” is one of their biggest fears.<br /><br /><div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VOjAcyvncs9eYeGw0QCoYurAh6AwKJJEtTAC09Rh901iStKaYxSBSRQyx1zpWd6ftNnvisNRBJatUoFt_RbPUjVh0Qi1rU7TTsdhuAlCLOotvrl3bBRtO4wRUTD4JEPhAuyCc6j8d2nn/s1600/teen-drinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VOjAcyvncs9eYeGw0QCoYurAh6AwKJJEtTAC09Rh901iStKaYxSBSRQyx1zpWd6ftNnvisNRBJatUoFt_RbPUjVh0Qi1rU7TTsdhuAlCLOotvrl3bBRtO4wRUTD4JEPhAuyCc6j8d2nn/s200/teen-drinking.jpg" width="200" /></a>To avoid this label, teens sometimes will portray an image of being tough, rebellious, and uncontrolled by their parents, and smoking and drinking are the easiest ways to declare their independence.</div><br /><strong>Sexual Activity</strong><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0N4RwCDTgxNKfQUK1cxVMyYQ3BAwxlNgHp4C9WOPkiXmQ-bnmqn9t6nkNGhrjLuB5qXEpAUtR3C6qh-_yWR1q3VBXojlH8lcKQMvYITFOcrFWX1c_oXYjhDrjKNJyOhySxMMHS7NNOTzc/s1600/sex_ed5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0N4RwCDTgxNKfQUK1cxVMyYQ3BAwxlNgHp4C9WOPkiXmQ-bnmqn9t6nkNGhrjLuB5qXEpAUtR3C6qh-_yWR1q3VBXojlH8lcKQMvYITFOcrFWX1c_oXYjhDrjKNJyOhySxMMHS7NNOTzc/s200/sex_ed5.jpg" width="200" /></a>Every year the age at which teenagers begin having sex gets younger and younger. A recent report released by the <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/news/7280420-418/survey-has-disturbing-stats-about-suburban-teens.html">Cook County Department of Public Health</a>. Showed just how active sexual activity is in teens, some 37% of teens say they have tried sex. Of that number 61 % were African Americans, 49% were Hispanic and 24% were Caucasians. What is even more shocking is that 7% report that they were physically forced to have sex against their will. Some girls feel pressured into having sex in order to be popular or liked by boys. Boys who are not willing to have casual sex with several girls are considered weak.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Oral sex has become very popular among teens due to their belief that oral sex isn’t serious because there is no risk of pregnancy.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Be open with your teenager about all forms of sexual intercourse. Explain that there are other reasons not to become sexually involved too early. Besides worrying about pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS, remind your teenager that he/she also needs to consider pride and self-respect.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Drugs</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A more dangerous and potentially life-threatening pressure teens face is drugs. Teens have recently been bombarded with the issue of Marijuana. The question of Medical Marijuana has created a state of ambiguity amongst teens. If it is safe why can’t they try it? In fact, in the last two years that this debate has occurred over Medical Marijuana it directly coincides with two years of flat reduction in Marijuana use by teens. Marijuana is an inexpensive drug in today’s society, and most teenagers do not consider it harmful. Some believe it does not cause addiction, and teens don’t realize that it is the gateway to other drugs like cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnduwIR7Nhh6K16MG9Ihyphenhyphenlc-yGZRMB5_2eRuRE4U1NRAXp0pXTEXIUaZcwEdEX5_Gu4PFmJ_Rn3rylYy2EeIvGM80TJqmf3EoWNvs_6sImE7ckaw01FNM1I8eagqJDH-R9bVGfiOu90UX/s1600/s-TEEN-DRUG-USE-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnduwIR7Nhh6K16MG9Ihyphenhyphenlc-yGZRMB5_2eRuRE4U1NRAXp0pXTEXIUaZcwEdEX5_Gu4PFmJ_Rn3rylYy2EeIvGM80TJqmf3EoWNvs_6sImE7ckaw01FNM1I8eagqJDH-R9bVGfiOu90UX/s200/s-TEEN-DRUG-USE-large.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">One of the biggest issues facing teens when . Teens don’t understand that one does not have to be a regular user in order to become addicted, especially when it comes to cocaine.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Parents need to be able to recognize signs of drug use in order to protect their child from becoming addicted to drugs, or to intervene if necessary. The longer a teen is using drugs, the harder it will be to stay sober after treatment.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Reasons that put your teen at higher risk to give into peer pressure:</div></div><ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Low self-importance</li><br /><li>Lack of confidence</li><br /><li>No particular interests or hobbies</li><br /><li>Feeling isolated from family</li><br /><li>Curiosity</li><br /><li>The need to “Fit In”</li><br /><li>Being made fun of or called a “loser”</li><br /></ul><br /><div>  <strong>Combating peer pressure</strong></div><br /><div></div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSZMbHXNoUIEBLLidHlHRyrS8gZcmKLveehx9Pzmmetbf76Kf2QUpTyBlbwjRGGcHa1bqghatdumwzk-0CXYigrh7ZFjMRXJUQz8ZqmQk7b5CodKyZ3HDjSjH2VX1hUOpPKVAZW7vHTsn/s1600/imagesCADL1VJ9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSZMbHXNoUIEBLLidHlHRyrS8gZcmKLveehx9Pzmmetbf76Kf2QUpTyBlbwjRGGcHa1bqghatdumwzk-0CXYigrh7ZFjMRXJUQz8ZqmQk7b5CodKyZ3HDjSjH2VX1hUOpPKVAZW7vHTsn/s200/imagesCADL1VJ9.jpg" width="200" /></a>Teenager’s may need encouragement to get involved in activities where he/she can find friends whose outlook and character are in line with your family's values. Do not be afraid to suggest activities or groups to them. Many teens are hesitant because they are not sure that they will enjoy it, sometimes they need coaxing.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div></div><br /><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Together, your teen and his/her friends can give moral support to each other which will make it much easier to resist negative peer pressure. Helping your teen learn to stand up for themselves and saying "no," will give them the courage to do the same thing and help others.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">  </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Discuss events, actions and their consequences often. Taking the time to help your teen work through these events will help your child to make the right choices when the situation arises.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div></div><br /><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVtUp7oQ92e9Rn3GphTgd2cE8jSi_ksgkZUZ6hOvgivQR7iu6tyNuOcNLcIzB_ErhZIc7xGLrZBqyMwabZp-u6eet9rLbwl4lo2q0ZEl4lWrCzTTDO1-jiu3uIl_0GF4PoqaIGczOZR_A/s1600/peer_pressure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVtUp7oQ92e9Rn3GphTgd2cE8jSi_ksgkZUZ6hOvgivQR7iu6tyNuOcNLcIzB_ErhZIc7xGLrZBqyMwabZp-u6eet9rLbwl4lo2q0ZEl4lWrCzTTDO1-jiu3uIl_0GF4PoqaIGczOZR_A/s200/peer_pressure.jpg" width="200" /></a>As parents we sometimes do not believe our children value our opinion, but the opposite is true, they do place a high value on it, however, how we apply it is usually where the message gets missed. Your teen is well aware of what you consider acceptable behavior, your value system, and the rules and limits you have set for your teen.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">  </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Telling your teenager not to give into these peer pressures will have little or no effect. Threats and punishment by parents put additional pressure on teenagers. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">  </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Tug-of-War</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div></div><br /><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Teens are faced with a constant tug of ware between parents and peers. This can be a harrowing time for a teen. As a parent try to avoid or ease the stress of this tug of war by conveying to your teen that you understand the pressures he/she is facing. Offer open discussions about situations and incidents - without the threat of punishment or judgment. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Telling your teen you care about them is paramount. You should try to foster a strong relationship based upon trust and respect. It is important that if your teen feels uneasy or unsure about doing something their friends suggest, he/she is probably about to do something that is wrong, maybe illegal and could possibly have a lasting negative effect on their life.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div></div><br /><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Helping your teen realize that the desire to fit in and not being called a loser is important and you understand that, but that they need to set a limit to how much influence his or her friends will place on your teens actions and potentially their future.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div></div>

Parent Tips: Competing with your child's friends!

How as a parent can you compete with what “cool” friends dictate? Peer pressure can impact many areas of your child’s life, from how to dres...

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Teens get twice the visit to the ER over 4th of July Weekend!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyiKRExN4tNSV0QTEz8f1Lx7wJ5zFepqfJ6IOsuU0_Gi9Tc4Yu2kWWrC1Jtwv2kn6_gfgvSe04Oxq85P4m9Zwlc4ZP0eiD47PsT1Y87Nr9GBR0IVwiwtXBsrFMuvji13MwiSC_ifAzMSp/s1600/Thinkstock_H_040611_TeenDrinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" /></a><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) released a report on Emergency Room visits and it found that on July 3rd and 4th teen boys who end up in emergency rooms for drinking-related injuries doubles over the July 4th weekend. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYr88ydoE6kx8ySRx6gIsWyH_N8YPFILWucRnZtV7aTNeoTowIePQ8QB50yBnPrwwJB0IuE9nQKNQ9Y3InvFfRbYiHEHMsuPEdfkDGzPSBlVamgX94R3GogHX0t__dYsp00wLKBXZGCNMN/s1600/emergency-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">According to the report, drinking on July 3 and 4th results in a daily average of 1,000 youth under the age of 21 two thirds of them male - to the Emergency Room for problems related to alcohol use the report stated.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Drinking related injuries include actions such as fights, car accidents and other types of incidents. Drinking teens and young adults, are at a high rate of risk for all those activities. The report for SAMSHA released a statistics from July 4th, 2009, that showed 622 boys and 304 girls ended up in the emergency room. It also revealed that emergency room visits for girls held steady throughout the month of July, but that the number for boys doubled over the holiday weekend. </div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDsZtwNYX6K3eY_AlbUjbRhHVRj5YjgnqUMGFncR1p9K1W5rt0Rn-O6oSKovbg8UNg8o9_mSWIdaqh7MssWwVEMfzwAtlm6IwaZBinuTF0pIBG78GXwUNpn-uL2qXZmrUbjTUrhNhoIej/s1600/teen_drinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" /></a> </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Delany said drinking-related injuries are from fights, car accidents and other mishaps. When kids drink, "they are at greater risk for all those activities that can get you hurt," he explained.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The information was gathered from the <a href="http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k10/DAWN034/EDHighlights.cfm">2009 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) report</a>, conducted by SAMSHA, which reports drug related hospital emergency department visits around the country. </div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When it's a holiday weekend, what we are finding now is that kids, especially young men, are ending up at the emergency room because of alcohol-related problems at almost double as what they would on any other day during July," said Peter Delany, director of SAMHSA's Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Parents take the time to monitor your children, but also take the time to have that conversation with your young adult children as well. We as adults believe our 18, 19 and 20 year olds can take care of themselves. The reality and that statistics show that they are at a higher risk. Have that conversation with them. Here are some quick tips to help you have those conversations.</div><ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We are here to make it clear that we will not tolerate any drug or alcohol use by you. </li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We have rules in the family. The rules do not permit teen drug and alcohol use. </li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Even though you think everyone is using drugs or alcohol, it is illegal and not allowable. </li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You can endanger your life and the lives of others. We don’t want anything bad to happen to you. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you. </li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We count on you as a family member. Your brothers and sisters look up to you and care about you. What would they do if you were gone? </li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Drug and alcohol use can ruin your future and chances to…graduate, go to college, get a job, and keep your driver’s license. </li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We are here to support you. What can I do to help you not use? </li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Sometimes kids use drugs and alcohol because there are other issues going on like stress, unhappiness and social issues. Have you thought about this? Are there other problems you want to talk about? </li><li>Are your friends using? How are you handling that? Is it hard to not use in that environment? </li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We won’t give up on you because we love you. We’re going to be on your case until you stop completely. If you need professional help, we will be there to support you and help make it happen.</li></ul>

Teens get twice the visit to the ER over 4th of July Weekend!

The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) released a report on Emergency Room visits and it found that on ...

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Parents, Hosting teen parties be smart and safe

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaDpE8tzEd7i5snFCei4WH4VTlykicfmC6a3nTz3ho095mgob92BXVrVCPgo2Z8AgN2cP09jNub1DZy6UG1Ang7i4-MGEY0q0K9xDMclq_5ZGcsdXNGxwL6c9ncAq-BD8kdnFKE509SCd/s1600/high_school_graduation_ceremony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaDpE8tzEd7i5snFCei4WH4VTlykicfmC6a3nTz3ho095mgob92BXVrVCPgo2Z8AgN2cP09jNub1DZy6UG1Ang7i4-MGEY0q0K9xDMclq_5ZGcsdXNGxwL6c9ncAq-BD8kdnFKE509SCd/s200/high_school_graduation_ceremony.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a>High School graduations brings all kinds of emotions for teens and parents alike. There is a cross section of emotions for parents from elation and pride of your child's academic accomplishment too sadness, knowing that your little one has grown up so fast. And for those parents hosting a graduation party, there's some trepidation that comes with such responsibility.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Yes you want to host a party because this is a momentous academic milestone you're celebrating, after all. But hosting a party places you at incredible risks, it could make a teen or child a statistic and put your in legal as well as financial trouble..</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Alcohol related fatalities spike during this time of year, in particular because of the amount of teen partying that occurs. A recent National Highway Traffic Safety report revealed that more than 60 percent of traffic fatalities in the 15-to-20 age group that occur during the weeks of graduation are alcohol-related. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXLkK4AH7By75BDLVI-THvwn97ReiOo6VWxSNe0sX5hbAfgS4xbEzfC2yDNvUVbi70ltpfQ8j-cLkepiT9rmLZtYTZrColTzsCuIEuHHpHx37oVW20Y6NkJIX_3ziZ9TuFH0M1cwhvYMI/s1600/party-drinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXLkK4AH7By75BDLVI-THvwn97ReiOo6VWxSNe0sX5hbAfgS4xbEzfC2yDNvUVbi70ltpfQ8j-cLkepiT9rmLZtYTZrColTzsCuIEuHHpHx37oVW20Y6NkJIX_3ziZ9TuFH0M1cwhvYMI/s200/party-drinking.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a>Remember <a href="http://www.drugfreeactionalliance.org/pwh.php">Parents Who Host, Lose The Most.</a>  Many well-meaning parents think that it is enough to take away car keys at their teen's parties so the teens can't drink and drive. Parents provide the alcohol or allow alcohol to be consumed based on the false belief that it's a rite of passage, especially at prom and graduation parties.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You're probably well aware of what it takes to throw a fun, yet safe graduation party. But you could always used more help, here are some tips, such as:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Stick to a guest list - no strangers</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJD4qO5SbdPic3PIxmefUteiQeqf7_rlwaRa8Sq6DR9joKHMdCFId48hBOchd0P7A3T06rDs6FWVZG5LBGKdT6mbU3XsDDvywrWZXQ_xgDwwp1m9xbwVl-pTjQf-AdgYwlXBHPrRsgFLix/s1600/partyDM2802_468x296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJD4qO5SbdPic3PIxmefUteiQeqf7_rlwaRa8Sq6DR9joKHMdCFId48hBOchd0P7A3T06rDs6FWVZG5LBGKdT6mbU3XsDDvywrWZXQ_xgDwwp1m9xbwVl-pTjQf-AdgYwlXBHPrRsgFLix/s200/partyDM2802_468x296.jpg" t8="true" width="200" /></a>Lay down the 'no alcohol, no drugs, no tobacco' law and stick to it!</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Secure all forms of alcohol in your home in a safe place</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Contact parents of anyone who arrives in possession of alcohol or under the influence</li></ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>

Parents, Hosting teen parties be smart and safe

High School graduations brings all kinds of emotions for teens and parents alike. There is a cross section of emotions for parents from elat...

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April is Alcohol Awareness Month

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4W6nOLiNgyfDtOHyFBpfTnP0DC7N6tU0H7F6ckzHfTGGRdFLfje1aqKPI93DTI15ElWVCqMTjw7nZOTwba-KtqU0_IS-aQASZ-XDLehqymQayC8PJLfbGymYPxth2u_nOioEzQk67i_O/s1600/imagesCA8CBDKO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4W6nOLiNgyfDtOHyFBpfTnP0DC7N6tU0H7F6ckzHfTGGRdFLfje1aqKPI93DTI15ElWVCqMTjw7nZOTwba-KtqU0_IS-aQASZ-XDLehqymQayC8PJLfbGymYPxth2u_nOioEzQk67i_O/s200/imagesCA8CBDKO.jpg" width="200" /></a>As we rapidly approach the warmer weather months, teens turn towards thoughts of prom and graduation. These are teen’s traditions to celebrate "coming of age" and to recognize accomplishments. However, these times of joy, dancing, good memories and celebration easily could turn dangerous and deadly. </div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which monitors alcohol-related accidents says that during the months of April, May and June, the peak months for proms and graduations, these accidents spike. The organization <a href="http://www.sadd.org/">Students Against Destructive Decisions</a> (SADD) reports automobile crashes are the leading cause of death among teens, and approximately 36 percent of traffic deaths among 15-20 year olds are alcohol-related. </div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZBcQmNNOM1p1Ril5BRHdIrsmvrjjcrHPqbHkkq_O57O36g1oRWPGXQWG_Z-a2kfu2aTXYe1Ozdoli6lO20L50Ox84yeI7TpIN23-_ZhE-yKBhQRZjDfmzPDNliNLmV2JFHVPZCuxnrzh/s1600/host.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZBcQmNNOM1p1Ril5BRHdIrsmvrjjcrHPqbHkkq_O57O36g1oRWPGXQWG_Z-a2kfu2aTXYe1Ozdoli6lO20L50Ox84yeI7TpIN23-_ZhE-yKBhQRZjDfmzPDNliNLmV2JFHVPZCuxnrzh/s200/host.jpg" width="200" /></a>Contrary to what many believe underage drinking is not a "rite of passage" during prom and graduation. There are even some parents who believe that it is better for teens to drink alcohol than to use drugs are sending a confusing message to teens. Even more confusing for teens are those adults who will host parties where alcohol is provided, because they think they can better protect teens in supervised situations. The <a href="http://www.drugfreeactionalliance.org/pwh.php">Drug Free Action Alliance’s</a>, “Parents Who Host Lose the Most” Campaign aims to highlight this issue.</div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">But these beliefs and misperceptions are not supported by the research. Underage drinking is both illegal and risky. The National Institutes of Health released a study that found heavy alcohol consumption harms brain development in teens. The region of the brain that inhibits risky behavior is not fully formed until age 25, and any alcohol-related damage incurred at a young age can have long-term effects.</div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Researchers have found that teens who start drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence and two and a half times more likely to become abusers than those who delay alcohol use until age 21. </div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96wbH4YCKqrhNmDbv10X8x3aulYYntINfS_iO4nHaHOvnkfPDxFnmzwccX20aro3pBK0lPDRDFxLNlQSKvUQFXUz8A4gTw0oaqwSLK8TsS6qabJq5v_kElb3Jjejl9mEwpNXU6jEmCMnp/s1600/imagesCAV2AAZ0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96wbH4YCKqrhNmDbv10X8x3aulYYntINfS_iO4nHaHOvnkfPDxFnmzwccX20aro3pBK0lPDRDFxLNlQSKvUQFXUz8A4gTw0oaqwSLK8TsS6qabJq5v_kElb3Jjejl9mEwpNXU6jEmCMnp/s1600/imagesCAV2AAZ0.jpg" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Alcohol is a powerful, mood-altering drug that contributes to lack of judgment and poor coping skills. Under-age drinking can lead to destructive behaviors such as physical and emotional violence, sexual mistakes or misjudgments, accidental injuries and deaths and alcohol overdose.</div><br /><div></div>GATE America wants to help teens remain safe during this season of proms and graduations, we recommends parents and other caregivers do the following:<br /><br /><div></div><ul><li>Have regular and open communication with your teens about drugs and alcohol.</li><li>Discuss rules and expectations for proms and graduations.</li><li>Do not supply drugs or alcohol to your teens.</li><li>Know who is driving and what the plans are.</li><li>Don't rent hotel rooms for your teens.</li><li>Communicate with other parents about their expectations for proms and graduations. </li><li>Stay up until your teens are home.</li><li>Supervise and be involved at proms and graduations.</li></ul><br /><div></div>The research shows regular communication between parents and teens has a positive influence on the decisions teens make. Teens are more likely to live up to the parent's expectations and less likely to drink, use drugs and engage in sexual behavior when open and regular communication is occurring. <br /><br /><div></div>

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

As we rapidly approach the warmer weather months, teens turn towards thoughts of prom and graduation. These are teen’s traditions to celebra...

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Parents: Drug Awareness Series

As part of our ongoing effort to educate and raise awareness to the public and parents about the dangers of drugs we will be running a multi-part series on abused drugs over the next several months.  In light of the report released in December 2010 <a href="http://monitoringthefuture.org/">Monitoring the Future</a> public perceptions are changing in regards to risk and harm of particular drugs.<br /><br />There is also much in fact and myth surrounding many drugs that the teens, parents and the public are not aware.  It is through this series that we will be putting the spot light upon drugs that are available and out there and the risks to them. <br /><br />Look for information to come forward about<br /><ul><li>Alcohol</li><li>Marijuana</li><li>Cocaine & Crack</li><li>Heroin</li><li>Prescription Medications</li><li>Methamphetamine</li><li>Ecstasy MDMA</li><li>Ketamine</li><li>LSD</li><li>K2 (Spice)</li><li>Salvi</li><li>and much more</li></ul>Each series will provide information about patterns and trends as well as about common pathways to use of each particular of drug. In addition, resources will be provide to allow teens, educators and parents on where to turn to get help in addressing this issue.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color: red;">Part 1: Why young people try Illegal Drugs?</span></strong>

Parents: Drug Awareness Series

As part of our ongoing effort to educate and raise awareness to the public and parents about the dangers of drugs we will be running a multi...

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December 3D Month. National Drunk and Drugged Driving Month!

Every day, 36 people in the United States die, and approximately 700 more are injured, in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. <br /><br /><br /><div></div>This December, during National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month (3D Month), consider what you and your community can do to make injuries and deaths from impaired driving less of a threat.<br /><br /><div></div><strong><u>The Problem </u></strong><br /><br /><div></div>According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBru5Ir4roXEn5qqwGMDtehN0sv6DoTiiFB5qOHu_WjJAn3_TWRWBsx8LLLTg1hU5ihwTiNu1z1g5uIV_UxB1L8QNwQJySukUu37c3WpaW_TyyITcWGTEMCHLGDRSJ0NDmELyMJcLjqO5u/s1600/drugg-impared-driving-header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBru5Ir4roXEn5qqwGMDtehN0sv6DoTiiFB5qOHu_WjJAn3_TWRWBsx8LLLTg1hU5ihwTiNu1z1g5uIV_UxB1L8QNwQJySukUu37c3WpaW_TyyITcWGTEMCHLGDRSJ0NDmELyMJcLjqO5u/s320/drugg-impared-driving-header.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In 2006, 13,470 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (32%) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States. </div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In one year, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. This accounts for less than 1% of the 159 million self-reported episodes of alcohol–impaired driving among U.S. adults each year. </div><br /><div></div>Alcohol-related crashes in the United States cost about $51 billion a year. <br /><br /><div></div><strong><u>Protect Yourself and Your Family and Friends</u></strong><br /><br /><div></div>During the holiday season, and year-round, take steps to make sure that you and everyone you celebrate with avoids driving under the influence of alcohol. Following these tips from NHTSA can help you stay safe:<br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Plan ahead. Always designate a non-drinking driver before any holiday party or celebration begins. <br /><br /><div></div>Take the keys. Do not let a friend drive if they are impaired. <br /><br /><div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Be a helpful host. If you’re hosting a party this holiday season, remind your guests to plan ahead and designate their sober driver, always offer alcohol-free beverages, and make sure all of your guests leave with a sober driver. </div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><strong><u>Know How Communities Can Help </u></strong><br />Proven community and state-level methods for reducing alcohol-impaired driving include:<br /><br /><ul><li> Sobriety checkpoints. Studies found that fatal crashes thought to involve alcohol dropped by about 22% following implementation of sobriety checkpoints. </li><li>Minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws. Studies found that raising the MLDA to 21 reduced crashes by about 16% among people ages 18.20 years. </li><li>0.08% BAC laws. Fatal alcohol-related crashes declined about 7% after 0.08% BAC laws were passed. </li><li>"Zero tolerance" laws for young drivers. Three studies found that zero tolerance laws resulted in declines in fatal crashes among drivers ages 18.20 years of between 9% and 24%. </li></ul>     ...<br /><div></div>

December 3D Month. National Drunk and Drugged Driving Month!

Every day, 36 people in the United States die, and approximately 700 more are injured, in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impa...

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Binge Drinking can have long-term consequences

A new research into life long alcohol consumption reveals that heavy binge drinking by adolescents and young adults is associated with increased long-term risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders. The risk is lower in people who start drinking alcohol later in live and maintain more moderate drinking patterns. <br /><br /><br />The study just published by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM) indicated that there is an increased health risks were independent of the total amount of alcohol consumed over a lifetime, or whether or not people stopped or curtailed drinking as they matured.<br /><br />According to Dr. Marcia Russell of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation’s Prevention Research Center in Berkeley, California who authored the study. “Early initiation of alcohol drinking and heavy drinking in adolescence and early adulthood seem to be associated with a number of adverse health effects collectively known as the metabolic syndrome.”<br /><br />Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of metabolic risk factors that increase the chances of developing heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. The exact cause of the metabolic syndrome is not known, but genetic factors, to much body fat (especially around the waist) and lack of exercise increase the risk of developing the condition.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1FE4HLm62KhQC1MEIHH2-9epa5q003rQqQsIqBP1WUz4k3CbvMrZAUpb-pJ1mN-nBJ7iGpKlXWDcmfsSXq_NoLJAcJe8GM2KA4QYR6tnA9iG32HFSReWmW9mcurwe-CuJJxEYgT9u_JT/s1600/binge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1FE4HLm62KhQC1MEIHH2-9epa5q003rQqQsIqBP1WUz4k3CbvMrZAUpb-pJ1mN-nBJ7iGpKlXWDcmfsSXq_NoLJAcJe8GM2KA4QYR6tnA9iG32HFSReWmW9mcurwe-CuJJxEYgT9u_JT/s320/binge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Binge Drinking affect your future!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The research in this study was based on data from the Western New York Health Study (WNYHS) which was conducted from 1996-2001. The study collected lifestyle information on more than 2,800 people who reported there were regular drinkers at one point in their lives. The study also collected data on the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components, including obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and high fasting glucose. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The study identified lifetime drinking patterns, early peak drinking and stable drinkers. As was identified early peak drinkers stated on average 10 years younger than stable drinkers. They drank fewer and consumed less volume of alcohol but averaged more drinks per drinking day and had higher rates of episodic heavy drinking and intoxication. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The risk for increased metabolic syndrome found in the study may be associated with adverse health effects of early unhealthy drinking patterns, which were carried over to later life. In addition, early peak drinkers may have adopted other lifestyle habits detrimental to cardio-metabolic health.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div>

Binge Drinking can have long-term consequences

A new research into life long alcohol consumption reveals that heavy binge drinking by adolescents and young adults is associated with incre...

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7 Tips For Parents On Teen drug Use!

<div align="right" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEZATKEU282VnXU_BNVGXb_BsN-1SOhZNTDa8zCLVXBzC-0YAa5RCuoFApVrysKcofFmnq77jZBUJO6ZfVHUam3dU7NkdcPqWQDkClKTAS9iXosHYYe7mLKvdPhKijQoTeIdlgvo6upCn/s1600/teens201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 225px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 200px;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEZATKEU282VnXU_BNVGXb_BsN-1SOhZNTDa8zCLVXBzC-0YAa5RCuoFApVrysKcofFmnq77jZBUJO6ZfVHUam3dU7NkdcPqWQDkClKTAS9iXosHYYe7mLKvdPhKijQoTeIdlgvo6upCn/s200/teens201.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Having an open caring relationship with an adult role model is a critical piece of preventing drug abuse in children. <br /><br /><div></div>Parents and primary care givers have a critical role in preventing children’s in involvement with drugs and alcohol. It is a virtual dead certainty that your child will come in contact with drugs and alcohol sooner rather than later. How they handle it can be largely determined by parental involvement and preparation. Please do not ignore this problem and hope it will simply go away. Here is why. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Some facts on child drug use. (Office of National Drug Control Policy)</strong> <br /><ul><li>The single leading cause of death among youth is driving under the influence. </li><li>The second leading cause is suicide. Drugs are present 60% of the time. </li><li>The average age of first use of alcohol is 11 years old. ?Of children who use alcohol or drugs before age 15, 40% are later classified with an addiction. No parent wants to see their child involved with drugs. The likelihood of a child associating with drug-using friends is reduced by a close relationship with their parents There are some specific steps you can take to help your child be properly prepared to meet the challenge of drugs and alcohol. Here they are: </li></ul><ol><li> Give clear messages and expectations that using drugs is not OK. Don’t assume your child knows your views, state them and make them clear as a bell. </li><li>Be a good, active listener. Be alert to both spoken and implied messages when you or your child is speaking about drugs. Have discussions not arguments. </li><li>Help with your child deal with peer pressure to use drugs. Review possible scenarios or listen to what has happened. Work out the possibilities both the pros and the cons of the situation as well as expected or potential outcomes. Help to plan appropriate actions and empower your child to act. </li><li>Get familiar with your child’s friends and parents. Meeting your children’s friends will give you a sense of their personalities, what they are “into”,” and their family situations. Don’t be too quick to judge a child’s friends, though. Radical styles and unconventional appearances may be nothing more than a badge of identity. </li><li>Know your child’s whereabouts. Children who had the least amount of monitoring or ‘latchkey’ kids are at greater risk of drug use and at earlier ages. Check up on your child’s whereabouts. </li><li>Supervise activities. Unsupervised parties or activities are an open invitation to drug use. </li><li>Have open, honest and sincere conversations with your child about using drugs and alcohol and the consequences. </li></ol><br /><div>These tips are just the tip of the iceberg on proactive steps you can take as parents in protecting and preparing your child for exposure to drugs and alcohol use. More information and resources are freely available.</div>

7 Tips For Parents On Teen drug Use!

Having an open caring relationship with an adult role model is a critical piece of preventing drug abuse in children. Parents and primary ca...

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