Parents' Influence on Teen Drinking

Reported by: Myhighplains.com
Monday, May 25, 2009 @01:49pm

Teenagers are bound to experiment with drugs, alcohol and sex - right?
Not necessarily, says 15-year-old Nick. "It's not inevitable," he says. "It's just a personal decision."

"There's [sic] a lot of people who just don't want to try any of that stuff, but there are some people who do," says 15-year-old Chris Mullings.

The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs reports that when underage drinkers are disciplined by their parents they are less likely to become heavy drinkers compared to kids whose parents ignore their drinking.

See the full article at: http://myhighplains.com/content/fulltext/?cid=57761

Binge Drinking Damages White Matter in Adolescent Brain

April 28, 2009

Research Summary

A new MRI study finds that adolescents damage the white matter in their brain -- which helps relay information between brain cells -- when they binge on alcohol, HealthDay News reported April 21.

Researchers said that the study of 28 teens indicates that binge drinking could impair thinking and memory among teens, perhaps even affecting performance in school. Past studies have revealed white-matter damage in adult alcoholics.

"It could be that episodes of binge drinking during the teenage years, when their brain is still developing, could have adversely influenced the brain's white matter development," said lead researcher Susan F. Tapert of the University of California at San Diego and director of Substance Abuse/Mental Illness at the VA San Diego Healthcare System.

Given the current rate of adolescent binge drinking in the U.S., Tapert said that one in four teens could be at risk of white-matter damage due to heavy alcohol use.

The report was published online in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

Anti-Drug Media Campaign

ANTI-DRUG MEDIA CAMPAIGN OFFERS RESOURCES TO HELP PARENTS DEAL WITH TEEN STRESS TO PREVENT TEENS FROM ENGAGING IN RISKY BEHAVIORS

Even under the best of circumstances, teens struggle with a great deal of stress in their lives - from school to money to peer pressure. Yet many teens lack appropriate coping mechanisms. Without the proper guidance from a parent or other trusted adult, they may turn to risky and unhealthy behaviors, such as drug use and drinking.

A recent survey shows that 43 percent of 13- to 14-year-olds say they feel stressed every single day. By ages 15 to 17, the number rises to 59 percent. And nearly two-thirds of teens say that they are "somewhat" or "very concerned" about their personal finances, with girls reporting feeling "frequently stressed" more often than boys.

As parents are the greatest influences in their children's lives, during tough times, it is critical that parents in the community are reminded about the need to build communication, and trust, with their teens. Valuable information and a new expert column are now available on the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign's parent Web site, http://www.theantidrug.com/, at www.TheAntiDrug.com/Advice/Safeguarding-and-Monitoring/Monitoring-Skills/Managing-Teen-Stress.aspx and http://www.TheAntiDrug.com/Advice/Expert-Advice/General-Parenting/Stressed-Out.aspx.

In addition to the new online content, you'll find many other FREE resources and print materials for parents. You may order the following by visiting www.TheAntiDrug.com/Resources/ or calling 1-800-788-2800 to place bulk orders free of charge:

· Navigating the Teen Years: A Parent's Handbook for Raising Healthy Teens, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, is packed with useful tips and expert advice on how parents can tune into their teens, set rules and expectations, and monitor them through their adolescent years. [PHD1127]

· The Teen Years: A Roadmap for Parents is an interactive CD-ROM that provides in-depth information about how your teen is developing throughout adolescence and offers expert advice for parents on how to best guide their teen through this transitional time. [AVD228]

· Keeping Your Teens Drug-Free: A Family Guide specifically addresses the importance of family as a drug deterrent and notes simple techniques that even busy parents can use to help prevent drug use. [PHD1114] Versions specifically written for African American [PHD1116] and Hispanic [PHD1115] parents are also available.

ABOUT THE MEDIA CAMPAIGN: Since its inception in 1998, the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign has been authorized by Congress to reduce and prevent teen drug use. For more information on the ONDCP National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, visit http://www.mediacampaign.org/.

60 Minutes Story on College Binge Drinking

60 Minutes Story on College Binge Drinking Highlights Importance of Limiting Youth Access to Alcohol

February 23, 2009
Announcement From: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)511 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 700Irving, TX 75062

DALLAS -- 60 Minutes, CBS's weekly newsmagazine, aired a story [Feb. 22] on underage drinking focused on the significant problem of binge drinking on college campuses but did not include peer-reviewed scientific data showing lives are being saved on and off the roadways. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) National President, Laura Dean-Mooney, said, "Lowering the drinking age would only make the problem worse among 15, 16 and 17 year-olds, just look at European countries with an 18 law." Data from European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) in 2003 showed that of 35 European countries, 31 had a higher percentage of 15-year olds who had been drunk in the past year than in the U.S.

Support 21, a broad coalition of stakeholders from science, medical and public health organizations, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the American Medical Association (AMA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), today said they are deeply disappointed that the story fuels an irresponsible debate with lives at stake. The Coalition stands firmly behind the indisputable scientific research found by more than 50 high-quality, peer-reviewed studies that show that the 21 minimum drinking age law saves lives on the roadways. Additionally, the law has been proven to lower underage consumption and save lives off the roads.

To view the entire story, go to http://www.jointogether.org/news/yourturn/announcements/2009/60-minutes-youth-access.html?log-event=sp2f-view-item&nid=49287108

Sacramento Emergency Rooms First to Counsel on Underage Drinking

Rocklin & Roseville Today
Saturday, November 15, 2008

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - In response to a dramatic increase in the number of underage patients who are under the influence, emergency departments in the Sacramento region, led by UC Davis Medical Center, will establish the first program in California to offer counseling aimed at curbing alcohol abuse to children, teens and their families while they're in the ER.

"They're getting drunker, they're getting younger and there are more of them," said Dana Covington, a 20-year UC Davis Medical Center emergency room nurse and project coordinator for the program, which will train dozens of nurses and social workers at four area emergency rooms to talk to young people and their families about the dangers of underage drinking.

See the full article at:
http://www.rocklintoday.com/news/templates/uc_davis_health.asp?articleid=6781&zoneid=75

Mock Casualty Simulation Held in Goodhue

GOODHUE - In a coordinated effort between the Goodhue County Chemical Health Initiative, Goodhue Public Schools FCCLA, the Goodhue Police Dept, the Goodhue County Sheriff's Dept, Goodhue Fire Dept, Zumbrota Area Ambulance, Mayo One and Mahn Funeral Home, the students at Goodhue High School witnessed a mock crash simulation on Friday, October 17. The event was the culmination of a week-long program focusing on teenagers, chemical use and driving. Goodhue FCCLA members volunteered to portray casualties in a crash caused by a drunk driver.

Police and deputies appeared first on a scene of chaos. Emergency medical personal arrived minutes later to take over the care of the victims. The simulation's impact grew as people felt the dirt that was whipped up from Mayo One's propellersand listened to noise as one car was cut and its roof removed.Students were visibly distressed as they watched their classmate loaded into a body bag and into the hearse from Mahn Funeral Home.

After the simulation, students returned to the gym for the end of the program where they heard from Garry and Shirley Hoyme of Zumbrota. Their daughter, Beth, was killed by a drunk driver.

The coordinated effort of many people went into this event to educate students on the consequences of drinking and driving.

Halftime Presentation Will Target Teenage Alcohol Abuse

Simi Valley Acorn, Agoura Hills, CA, October 17, 2008

Advocacy group to share stats during RHS football game

Straight-Up Ventura County, a teenage advocacy group dedicated to curbing underage drinking, will share information about teenage drinking at Royal High School's football game during the halftime intermission approximately 7:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. tonight, Oct. 17, at the school's football field, 1402 Royal Ave., Simi Valley.

The Simi Coalition and Simi Valley Hospital will also participate in the event.

Joyce Norman, M.D., of the Simi Valley Hospital Emergency Department, will briefly discuss teenage drinking and its impact on the community and hospital.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more than tobacco and illicit drugs.

Physicians and nurses at the Simi Valley Hospital examined data from 2006 to the present and discovered that alcoholrelated visits to the emergency department among patients ages 12 to 20 peaked during the first quarter of 2008 (January through March).

A total of 27 alcohol-related visits were recorded during that time, compared with 11 visits recorded during the first quarter of 2006.

Sixteen-year-olds were the most prevalent age group among ages 12 to 20 to seek treatment in the emergency department, with a total of 40 alcohol-related patient visits since 2006.

Your Mom and Dad are Right: Good Health = Better Grades

By JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY, Star Tribune
Last update: October 20, 2008 - 8:56 AM

Quit smoking. Turn off the computer. Go to bed. It could improve your grades. Of course, parents have always known that. Now, in the first study of its kind, researchers at the University of Minnesota have proved it. They matched grade point averages with the typical health problems such as smoking, drinking and stress reported by nearly 10,000 Minnesota college students. They found a clear connection between student health and academic success.

"Health is important," even for young adults who seem to be in the prime of their lives, said Dr. Ed Ehlinger, director of Boynton Health Services at the University of Minnesota and a lead author of the study. Both parents and college administrators "need to make sure that students have access to health care."

What affects grades the most? Stress (lots of it), excessive screen time, binge drinking and gambling.

Students who reported eight or more emotional stresses -- anything from failing a class to credit card debt to a conflict with parents -- had an average GPA of 2.72. Those who said they had no significant stress reported an average GPA of 3.3.

"Stress is one of the biggest factors," said Marcus De La Garza, a senior from Duluth. A year ago, just before finals, he had to go home to take care of family members with serious health problems, and it showed in his grades, he said.

"I was out of the game," he said Friday. "Now I'm bouncing back." His GPA is up to 3.5.

The ability to handle stress was equally important, the survey found. Those who said they could effectively manage it performed much better than those who said they couldn't. That's an important finding, because it can persuade colleges to provide students with the resources they need to learn how to manage stress, Ehlinger said.

Earlier surveys showed that students who spend a lot of time on the computer, watching TV or playing video games were more likely to engage in other unhealthful habits such as eating fast food, Ehlinger said. Now it's clear that these activities cut significantly into their grades as well. Four or more hours of screen time a day resulted in an average GPA of 3.04 or less. Less than an hour a day bumped it up to 3.3 or better.

The same pattern held with binge drinking. Teetotalers reported an average GPA of 3.31, compared with 2.99 for students who drank excessively at least once in the previous two weeks.

Ben Flatum, a university senior from Stillwater, just completed what he called "the year of being healthy." He stopped the regular partying, started eating better and began training for a race in Chicago that he ran last week.

"My time and energy has been exponentially better," he said. His weight is down 25 pounds, and his GPA is up to 3.3 from the 2.5 he had as a partying freshman.

To read this article in it’s in entirety, go to
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/31261604.html?page=1&c=y .

Parents Need to be on Offensive on Teen Drinking

By Alyssa Martina: Parent Coach

Being a parent is full of heart-stopping moments. From crossing the street to talking with strangers, our children's lives are peppered with experiences that are a heartbeat away from an accident or mishap.

As parents, our job is to worry about and forecast the "what ifs" and prevent as many calamities as possible. Being precautious is just one of the many job requirements of "Parent." Anticipating what curves lie ahead is a vital -- and possibly lifesaving -- competency with which every mom or dad wants to be imbued. Chief among these curves is the concern surrounding all-too-common and hazardous underage drinking.

It's homecoming season now and that means that your older - and younger - teens will be tempted to engage in homecoming festivities where alcohol may be a staple of the party scene. But your kids don't drink, right? Don't be so sure. The most popular time for children to try alcohol is in the eighth grade. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 50 percent of eighth graders have tried alcohol and nearly 70 percent of eighth graders believe alcohol is "fairly easy" or "very easy" to get.

Just as disconcerting is the fact that the younger a child is when he first tries alcohol, the more likely he is to have a serious alcohol abuse problem later in life. Therefore, it's simply too late to begin the "don't drink" conversation when your kids are already teens or when you begin to see signs of teenage drinking.

It's a tough discussion that many parents naturally want to side-step altogether. Of course, no teen -- regardless of whether he or she drinks or not - is going to encourage having this conversation either; after all, teens want to feel grown up and they believe they are mature enough to make the right decisions.

They're not. Parents need to be on the offensive when it comes to teenage drinking. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 5,000 underage drinkers die every year in accidents related to their drinking. If your own child isn't drinking, maybe he's riding in a car with a teen driver who is.

Parents must talk to their tweens and teens about alcohol, and the sooner, the better. The more willing you are to discuss this in a clear and positive way, the easier your kids will feel about coming to speak with you about it and the more likely you'll be to avoid the problem of teenage drinking before it even starts.

Other tips include providing cool alternatives for fun for your teenagers, being a good role model yourself when it comes to drinking and staying engaged with your kids even as they get older and seemingly don't need you quite as much. They do. You are the primary influencer in their lives, no matter their age.

Friends have an enormous influence over your kids as well. You need to know where your teens are and with whom they're hanging out. "Trust but check" was my friend's tried-and-true insight when it came to dealing with her own teens.

Teens often are confronted with difficult choices. Should they take part in the fun? Should they wait? It's hard to say "no" when their friends are pressuring them to say "yes." And we need to reward their good decisions.

Ultimately, it comes down to teaching our children to make sound choices that will impact their future in both small and large ways.

Alyssa Martina is founder, president and publisher of Metro Parent Magazine and one of Metro Detroit's foremost experts on parenting. You can reach her at amartina@metroparent.com.

Drug Test for Prep Athletes Considered by State Doctors Group

State doctors group debates proposal
By Katherine Wolfe kwolfe@pioneerpress.com
Article Last Updated: 09/18/2008 11:59:06 PM CDT

Minnesota doctors are considering a proposal that would require high school athletes to take a drug test during routine physicals.

Doctors debated Thursday whether to ask for legislation during an open session at the Minnesota Medical Association's annual meeting, where about 150 state physicians met to vote on resolutions brought by members.

Dr. George Schoephoerster, a St. Cloud family physician, supports the proposal. He said urine tests done during routine physicals would be a way to monitor behavior and keep athletes, who often serve as role models for their peers, in check. If an athlete tested positive, it would give physicians a chance to pinpoint and treat the behavior usually undisclosed by the patient, Schoephoerster said.

See the full article at: http://www.twincities.com/health/ci_10503102