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Among 12-year-olds, 1 in 16 reports using alcohol in the past year. Among 14-year-olds, the rate jumps to more than 1 in 4—picture about 15 students on a full-sized school bus full of 9th graders.
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Teens with Disabilities Achieving a Balance
How much is enough? Parents of teens with disabilities may wonder about the best way to help these youth through adolescence. Sticking points may include what to expect, when to do more, when to back off, and how to balance the needs of other family members. Keeping these issues in mind and taking a positive approach are the keys to success as children with disabilities enter the teen years.
Good Decisions: More Than a Feeling
What was he thinking? How could she? If you find yourself wondering what your teen was thinking, the answer may be “not much.” Kids often make snap judgments based on impulse, especially when situations come up quickly, leaving teens with little time to sort through the pros and cons.
Rising Risk—Substance Use and Our Daughters
Girls have caught up with boys in a most unhealthy way—by increasing their use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs. Girls ages 12 to 17 now match boys in illegal drug and alcohol use and have actually surpassed boys in smoking cigarettes and misusing prescription drugs.
Effects of Alcohol
About 10.8 million adolescents ages 12-20 are underage alcohol drinkers.
The statement is not just an alarming statistic. It represents a real problem facing families, communities, and children every day. Children who drink are more likely to be victims of violent crime, have serious problems in school, and be involved in drinking-related traffic crashes. Alcohol use also is linked with youthful deaths by drowning, suicide, and homicide.
Helping Your Kids Cope in Times of Crisis
How can you help your kids deal with tough situations and make them feel safe in times of crisis? Children are exposed to traumatic events like Hurricane Katrina through TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, and even adult conversations that they overhear. The information can be scary to kids and they often need help managing what they’ve seen or heard. When you start talking with your children, you help them handle their feelings and you start a recovery of your own.
Katrina’s Effects on Kids
Hurricane Katrina has caused many people to feel overwhelmed, confused, and helpless—even children. As adults and parents, we all have a role in helping children deal with the crisis and making them feel safe.
Meth: America’s Homegrown Drug Epidemic
Created in neighborhoods across the country, methamphetamine (meth) is American’s homegrown drug epidemic. It’s sweeping the Nation from the California coast to the eastern seaboard. Meth is leaving a path of destruction, particularly among small towns, where youth are more than twice as likely to use the drug than young people living in larger cities.
Teen Girls Drink More Than Boys
"Sugar and spice, and everything nice; that's what little girls are made of." Maybe. But as they grow up, those little girls are drinking more than boys in all categories-beer, wine, alcopops, and hard-liquor drinks. With their sweet, sugary taste, alcopops have become girls' drink of choice. About one-third of teen girls say they have tried alcopops. Teen girls also report drinking alcopops more than other alcoholic drinks.
Too Many Kids Are Wasting Their Breath on Inhalants
What do nail polish remover, lighter fluid, a can of whipped cream, and glue have in common? They are just a few of the hundreds of everyday products that can be abused to get high. Curious youths often try inhalants because they are cheap, legal, and easy to get. However, inhalants are harmful and can be deadly. As parents, you can do a lot to prevent your children from risking their futures-and even their lives-with inhalants.
A Prescription for Danger—Use of Painkillers on the Rise
The latest threat in teen drug use may be lurking in your medicine cabinet. Young people’s abuse of prescription drugs has surged compared to their use of illegal drugs such as marijuana and ecstasy. Tackle this issue and learn more about incorrect use of prescription drugs. Then, talk with your child about the dangers.
Dating Violence Common Among Teens
Teen life, with its fads, crushes, clashes, and breakups, seems to be a world away from abusive relationships. Yet, there can be a dark side to all of the social drama. Many teens go through the same types of abuse—sexual, physical, and emotional—that some adults go through.
What Is Media Literacy?
Most media messages are constructed with a purpose. Media literacy can help youth understand messages— actual or “between the lines”—heard in music lyrics, promoted on clothing and jewelry, shown in ads, and portrayed on TV or in movies. This helps youth learn to see and resist messages that promote using alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs.
Body Piercing and Risky Behavior: Is There a Connection?
Body piercing has become more and more popular among teens and young adults. Pierced ears have been common for many years. But now, no part of the body seems to be off limits for rings, studs, and bars. Navels, tongues, eyebrows, and nostrils have become popular places for piercings.
Cigarette and Marijuana Smoke Hurts Young Lungs
There’s a new twist to the message about not smoking—don’t smoke cigarettes, and don’t smoke marijuana. Both damage young lungs. Teens need to understand the dual dangers because more high school students use marijuana than cigarettes in 13 of 14 cities surveyed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2001.
Teens Are Most Comfortable Talking to Mom
“You’re so unfair!” “Everyone else’s mom said it’s okay.” “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me.” Sound familiar? If you’re the mom of a teen, it probably does. But researchers at Penn State have some good news for you—you’re more important than ever in the life of your teen.
Survey Finds Nearly All Parents Yell at Their Kids But Harsh Words Are Unnecessary
It’s no secret that raising a child can be stressful. Yet, how parents handle it is crucial.
Snoring and ADHD: Is There a Link?
If you have ever tossed and turned all night and then attended an early morning meeting, you probably felt tired and cranky and had a slowed response time. Without a good night’s sleep, that tired and cranky feeling would only get worse and might cause more problems during your day. Think about your child’s sleeping habits—if your child is not getting a good night’s sleep, he may be having similar problems, which may even result in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
National Poisons and Inhalants Awareness Week
Sniffing, bagging, and huffing. These are some of the names for breathing the gas, fumes, or vapors of chemicals in order to get high. Inhalants are legal, common products that have a useful purpose but can be misused. You may keep many of these products in your own home—paint, glue, and nail polish remover. More than 1,000 other products are harmful when inhaled—things like typewriter correction fluid, air conditioning refrigerant, felt tip markers, spray paint, air freshener, butane, and even cooking spray.
March 15 Through 21 Is Brain Awareness Week
Has your child asked you how his brain works? Have you warned your teen that drugs will mess up his brain, but you’re not really sure how? Brain Awareness Week might be the perfect time to talk to your kids about the way the brain works and about how drugs can damage it. The youth-friendly information below will help you talk to your kids in terms that they can understand.
Dealing With Death
The death of a loved one is never easy, but it can be especially hard for your child to lose a close friend or a family member. Even the death of the family pet—which is often the first time a child has to deal with death—can be a confusing and scary experience for a child.
Report Says Young Females Follow Unique Substance Abuse Path
Differences between the sexes is an age-old topic. Yet, when it comes to alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use, a new study shows that we have a lot to learn.
December 5 Is Communicate With Your Kids Day!
You don’t need a special day to communicate with your kids, but on December 5, take a few minutes to sit down and really talk with your child.
Empathic Communication
Effective communication—the sharing of ideas, opinions, and information—helps you to build bonds with your child. Doing this right with your child will encourage positive behaviors in him, help to build trust, and create a more peaceful atmosphere in the home. Not getting this right, however, could cause frustration in your child and stress in the family.
I Statements
Healthy communication is critical to relationships, but is especially important between parents and children. Is your child listening? Does she understand you? Is your message really getting through? Showing your child how to communicate is part of parenting, but it becomes especially difficult in times of conflict.
Mental Illness Awareness Week
Mental Illness Awareness Week is an annual, national observance that was created by a Presidential proclamation in 1990 to focus attention on the high incidence of mental illness in America.
Update on Youth and Their Use of Illegal Drugs
You may have heard about the war on drugs, the soaring use of club drugs, or strong new versions of older drugs. Or, maybe you haven’t heard much lately about drug use. Either way, it can be hard to get a clear picture of illegal drug use among young people. So, let’s take a look at the latest facts.
Teaching Assertiveness
A child can learn assertiveness no matter what his personality is like. Outgoing children may have an easier time being assertive than shy children, but all children can and should learn to speak up for themselves. Assertive children are more likely to resist negative peer pressure. They also are more likely to have high self-esteem and self-confidence and to develop good communication skills.
You Never Listen To Me!
Do you recognize this phrase? How familiar are the complaints of “How many times have I told you?” or “I feel like I’m talking to a brick wall!” These are the timeless cries of frustrated parents everywhere. Yet, parents may be surprised that their children feel the same frustration in talking with them. Most of us would agree that communication is a two-way street. But, we may forget that there’s a lot more to communication than expressing ourselves.
Ways to De-Stress and Help Your Child Do the Same
Stress is a natural part of life, but too much of it can be harmful. How much direct stress is your child experiencing? Does he feel as if he has too much homework to handle? Is there a big event coming up, such as a move, that may be worrying him?
Be a Better Listener (with video)
Have you ever talked on the telephone while watching TV, folding clothes, or surfing the Internet? Have you ever felt that the person you were talking to was nodding and saying “uh-huh” in appropriate places but not really listening to you? The message conveyed in these examples is that the listener has higher priorities than giving full attention to the speaker. That message can make the speaker feel unimportant, frustrated, and hurt.
Who's Using Tobacco?
Have you ever wondered how many of today's youth actually smoke? A nationally representative sample of 13,627 public and private high school students from all 50 States and the District of Columbia has provided us with some answers. These students completed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS), which included questions related to tobacco use.
Childhood Depression Awareness Day
Childhood Depression Awareness Day is an annual observance that brings attention to a childhood mental illness that is becoming increasingly more common.
How Families Can Help Children Cope with Fear and Anxiety
Whether tragic events touch your family personally or are brought into your home via newspapers and television, you can help children cope with the anxiety that violence, death, and disasters can cause.
Teen Mental Health Problems: What Are The Warning Signs
The teen years can be tough for both parent and child. Adolescents are under stress to be liked, do well in school, get along with their family and make important life decisions. Most of these pressures are unavoidable and worrying about them is natural. But if your teen: is feeling extremely sad, hopeless or worthless, these could be warning signs of a mental health problem.
Who's Using Prescription Drugs for Nonmedical Reasons?
Have you ever wondered how common it is for today's youth to use prescription-type drugs nonmedically? Prescription-type drugs do not include over-the-counter drugs and are classified in four categories: pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives. An excellent source of nonmedical use of prescription-type drug data is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA).
Talk With Your Child About Sensitive Issues
Many adults struggle in communicating with their children. Talking with a child is an even bigger problem when dealing with "sensitive issues." Some subject may embarrass us because of what they are about. Others topics intimidate us because of how little we know about them. Sometimes, our desire to protect a child's innocence makes us hesitate to raise some subjects or to answer a child's questions about them.
Imposter Drugs
You probably know all about the dangers that illegal drugs pose for your children. But did you know that there are legal drugs that can be just as harmful? Over-the-counter or prescription medicines, if used improperly, can be harmful, as can many ordinary household products. In addition, legal, so-called "imposter drugs" are now on the market. The bad news is that just because these drugs are legal doesn't mean that they're safe.
Who's Using Marijuana?
Have you ever wondered how common marijuana use is among today's youth? Well, a nationally representative sample of 13,627 public and private high school students has provided us with some answers. These students completed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS), which included questions related to marijuana use and many other risk behaviors.
Weighing the Options—Planning a Defense
You've done all the right things as a parent—you've talked to your child about the risks of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use. You've discussed the media messages. You're involved in your child's life and working hard at being a good role model for her. You get to know her friends and their families. Now you need to prepare her for the moment when you're not there and she has to make a decision about whether to use drugs or not use drugs, smoke or not smoke, drink or not drink.
It Takes Two
Do you ever feel like you and your child are speaking two different languages? If so, you aren't alone. Many parents struggle to communicate with their child. Even adults who work with children every day—teachers, coaches, or club leaders—sometimes need some communication tips.
How Early Are Kids Starting Their Drug Use?
It's sometimes hard for adults, especially parents and caregivers, to imagine that children are using drugs. The fact is, however, that some young people are using tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs by age 12, sometimes even earlier.
How To Tell if Your Child Is Depressed
Your child may seem to be in a permanent bad mood, sleeping too much, or eating too little. These are signs that your child may be depressed. There are things you can do to help your child, however, and learning more about depression is a great first step!
Communication Barriers and How To Overcome Them (with video)
Talking to your preteen or teenager sometimes can be a bit difficult. Maybe you start to chat with your child and you get a "look" that immediately stops conversation. Or, maybe your child wants to talk to you, but you're focusing on paying the bills and are not giving him your full attention.
* We refer to a child as "him" in some places and "her" in others. We do this for easier reading. All information applies to both boys and girls unless otherwise specified.
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Last updated on 7/16/08
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