Substance Abuse and Teens

Problem Of Alcoholism
by eNotAlone.com
Men in developed countries have a 20 per cent increased risk of developing a problem of alcohol dependence during their lifetimes, according to American researchers from the University of California, San Diego.

Teen Marijuana Use Linked To Evenings Spent Out With Friends
by eNotAlone.com
A new study published this week in the February issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, showed worrying statistics about use of marijuana among teenagers. Research found that smoking pot among teens has dramatically increased in many

Avoiding Adolescent Alcohol Abuse
by National Institute of Health
You've tamed the tantrums, prevailed through Pampers® and potty training, and took on the role of tooth fairy many times, but that was a few years ago. Now you're faced with a new challenge: dealing with your child's early adolescence (ages 10-14)

Preventing College-Age Alcohol Abuse
by National Institute of Health
Young adults going off to college can expect to be exposed to many new experiences. Unfortunately, one of them may be heavy drinking. Alcohol abuse is now a widespread problem on the nation's college campuses.

Drugs are a Drag: Help Your Child Avoid Drugs of Abuse
by National Institute of Health
Kids heading back to school need to keep healthy if they're going to do well in the classroom and on the playing field. That means sleeping well, eating right, getting exercise and avoiding drugs of abuse.

Discussing Drinking: A Back-to-School Conversation You Need to Have
by National Institute of Health
As college students arrive on campus this fall, it's a time of new experiences, new friendships and making memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately for many, it can also be a time of excessive drinking and dealing with its aftermath-vandalism

Youth Alcohol Use Prevention
by National Institute of Health
Designing effective interventions for adolescents with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) presents several challenges, not the least of which is the accurate diagnosis of these disorders. Diagnostic criteria for AUDs have been derived largely from clinical

Adolescent Drinking: Psychosocial Processes of Risk and Protection
by National Institute of Health
Psychosocial research on adolescent drinking includes studies of personality and the impact of particular personality traits on drinking risk, expectancies (that is, the effects someone expects after drinking alcohol), and cognitive development.

Alcohol and Development in Youth: The Scope of the Problem
by National Institute of Health
Alcohol is the drug of choice among youth, often with devastating consequences. Alcohol is a leading contributor to injury death, the main cause of death for people under age 21.

Adolescent Drinking Behavior and Genes
by National Institute of Health
The years between early adolescence and young adulthood are a crucial period for alcohol researchers to study, because drinking typically is initiated during adolescence, and by young adulthood, individual differences in established drinking patterns

Parents, Practice What You Preach
by SAMHSA
Whether you are an occasional user or just have a drink or two with dinner, your tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drug use affects your children. Of course, your use or addiction does not, in itself, cause your child to become addicted

How Can I Protect My Teen from Underage Drinking?
by SAMHSA
Teens say that parents are the number one influence in their lives, and you have everything you need - right now - to help protect your teen from underage drinking. Don't wait for a better time; this is the best time!

Weed on the Web: Kids Buying Marijuana Online
by SAMHSA
The World Wide Web acts as a megastore where users can purchase almost anything, including illegal substances like marijuana. With about 30 million children in the United States under 18 using the Internet each day, parents and caring adults

Ketamine: The K That Kills
by SAMHSA
Ketamine is a substance that veterinarians use to medicate animals. But did you know that more and more young people have been using this drug illegally to get high? Ketamine, often referred to as Special K and also known as Vitamin K, Kit Kat, Keller

Wiggly Alcohol Tempts Teens
by SAMHSA
Remember when your mother gave you jiggly, slippery gelatin desserts? Most of us have fond memories of those brightly colored treats. But times have changed, and a different kind of gelatin may be offered to your child.

Ecstasy May Be the Drug of Choice for Lonely Teens
by SAMHSA
Over the past decade, ecstasy has become a drug of choice among teens and young adults. It is one of several club drugs, so called because they were once used mostly at dance clubs, bars, and all-night dance parties known as raves.

Teen Girls Drink More Than Boys
by SAMHSA
Alcopops combine a sweet flavor with the kick of malt liquor to create a taste that often appeals to teens. The alcohol industry calls them 'flavored malt beverages' or 'low-alcohol refreshers.' These drinks often contain more alcohol than most beers

Underage Drinking and Brain Damage
by SAMHSA
Youth often is thought of as a time for trying new things, but trying alcohol at a young age can be riskier than you might think. More than two decades of research from the American Medical Association (AMA) shows that alcohol causes severe and possibly

Imposter Drugs
by SAMHSA
Imposter drugs are legal drugs that have effects and side effects similar to illegal drugs. Currently, there are imposter drugs for most types of illegal drugs, such as marijuana, LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, speed, GHB ('date rape drug'), and many others.

Teens and Drugs: Ecstasy, GHB, Ketamine, Rohypnol: Roofies, R-2
by SAMHSA
Club drugs affect your brain. The term 'club drugs' refers to a wide variety of drugs often used at all-night dance parties (raves), nightclubs, and concerts. Club drugs can damage the neurons in your brain, impairing your senses, memory, judgment