Search Results for: blog teens and prescription drugs

Teen Drug and Alcohol Use on the Rise Again

Decades of “just say no” and other campaigns have had teen drug and alcohol use on the decline… until now. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the MetLife Foundation sponsored a survey of teens in grades nine (high school freshman) through twelve (high school senior). More than 3,200 teens returned anonymous questionnaires about drug use, alcohol use, and other risky behaviors. Both alcohol and marijuana use are up from 2008. Thirty-nine percent of teens reported drinking alcohol in 2009 — up from thirty-five percent in 2008. That works out to nearly six million teens across America. A quarter of … Continue reading →

Teens and Prescription Drugs

(cc) image by psyberartist/flickr Probably the worst side effect of kids being prescribed Ritalin and similar drugs in excess is that these kids eventually become teenagers who still take these drugs and also share them with each other. The survey, of 592 12- to 17-year-olds from across the U.S., found that 20 percent admitted to having lent a prescription drug to a friend, while a similar percentage said they had done the borrowing. The most commonly shared prescriptions were allergy drugs and narcotic pain relievers like Oxycontin and Darvocet, followed by antibiotics, acne medications like Accutane, and mood drugs such … Continue reading →

Abuse of Everyday Products

When my children were younger, I always made sure all medicines were locked up and in a spot they couldn’t be reached. Now that they are teens, it isn’t a concern…but apparently it should be. A new study just came out that says teens are starting to abuse over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. We’re not talking prescription medication (which of course, can also be a problem) but everyday medicines such as decongestants and cough syrup. Hey, it’s easy access. And it’s becoming more common because of the increased efforts to keep illicit drugs out of their hands. The study also indicates that … Continue reading →

Keep A Close Eye On Your Teen’s Medications

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If your child has ADHD, then it is a very good idea to keep a close watch over the prescription medication that your child is taking. It is not unheard of for teenagers and young adults to sell some of their medicine to their peers, or to give a few of their pills to a friend. How well do you trust your child? Parents of children who have ADHD usually realize that there is the potential that certain types of medications can be addictive. Parents who are especially concerned that their child will become addicted to his or her medication … Continue reading →

Marijuana Use in 8th Graders on Rise

I just read an article on NIH News that marijuana use is increasing amongst teens. While that is bad enough, it is especially disheartening to hear that it is on a greater increase with 8th graders. According to the 2010 Monitoring the Future Survey (MTF), the percentage of 8th graders smoking pot is up to 16%, compared to 14.5% last year. In addition the survey indicated that in all grades the use of marijuana on a daily basis has also gone up. It doesn’t help when we see the likes of Miley Cyrus, who was recently puffing away on a … Continue reading →

The Over/Under on Medication

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We’ve all heard the stories and read the statistics on how children today are being over medicated. Personally, I’m not sure which is sadder and more infuriating: a doctor willing to prescribe Ritalin to a toddler or a parent who is willing to give it to them. Thankfully, our child’s doctor would never do such a thing, and today was just another reminder why my wife and I love Lily’s pediatrician. We took Lily in for her eighteenth month check-up today. We informed the doctor that she had been a little congested and had felt a little feverish when she … Continue reading →

President Barack Obama’s Address to Students is No Biggie

This is one of those under a rock situations where you had to be practically brain dead to not be aware of the uproar over The President’s planned address to students scheduled for Tuesday September 8. After reading the full transcript for the planned speech, it is clear to me that it’s really no big deal. While there is a chance that he won’t read the pre-written speech verbatim, I can’t find anything that a reasonable parent would object to. In short, the president talks about some students may be reluctant to go to school and tells about when his … Continue reading →

How Def Leppard Managed to not “Fade Away”

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Def Leppard’s hit “Rock of Ages” from 1983’s breakout album Pyromania started out with these lyrics: Alright, I got something to say Yeah, its better to burn out, Yeah, than fade away Of course, Def Leppard was only referencing the Neil Young song “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) which also said, “It’s better to burn out/Than to fade away.” The cry of burnout out before fading away became a bit of a slogan for rockers, including Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain, who quoted that in his suicide note. However, Def Leppard managed to stay hot all these years, … Continue reading →

10 Ways To Be A Positive Role Model

In my blog “Who is your Child’s Role Model” I discuss the survey results that show that 50% of teenagers view a relative as a role model. Which means that parents are often their own child’s role models. So as a parent it is important that you are a good role model for your child. Here are ten ways that you can be a positive role model for your child. 1. Share your values. Let your child know what your stand is on things like drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and premarital sex. Having a value system like religion is also important. … Continue reading →

Teenage Drug Abuse Statistics

Although the use of many drugs have recently declined among teenagers there are still a significant number using illegal drugs. In the National Institute on Drug Abuse 2005 Monitoring the Future survey researchers found that 50% of high school seniors report some use of an illicit drug during their life. Many parents do not realize the signs of drug abuse or realize the prevalence among teenagers. Alcohol is the most common substance used, with 75% of seniors having at least tried alcohol and 23% within the last month. Few teenagers truly understand the risks associated with drinking alcohol and often … Continue reading →