1 in 5 US Teens Abuses Prescription Drugs

By Chrissie Dziembowski



The most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found 1 in 5 U.S. teens has abused prescription drugs, including powerful medications such as OxyContin and Percocet.

"Some people may falsely believe that prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs yet their misuse can cause serious adverse health effects, including addiction and death," said Howell Wechsler, director of the CDC's division of adolescent and school health. To read the full story click HERE.

On this same topic, another CDC report found that for the first time emergency room visits from the abuse of medicines have become as common as those from illegal drugs.

ERs in 2008 saw about 1 million visits from the abuse of prescription or over-the-counter medicines — mostly painkillers and sedatives. That was about the same number of visits from people overdosing on heroin, cocaine and other illegal drugs.

Health officials are not sure why painkiller abuse is increasing so dramatically, but the number of prescriptions has been increasing.

Prescription and over-the-counter meds are not to be taken lightly--or at all without cause and script from your doctor--just because they are technically legal substances. The same as you may lock up your gun, your weapons and your liquor from your kids, you should lock up your meds too!

For more information and tips on teens and prescription drug use visit THIS PAGE on the Partnership for a Drug-Free America website.

Phillies Pitcher supports Healthy Competition!

By Chrissie Dziembowski

Phillie's pitcher Jaime Moyer, and other Major League Players, haved joined forces with The Partnership for a Drug Free America to teach parents to encourage their kids to stay fit, eat right, and choose not to use drugs and alcohol. On their new website, Healthy Competition, you'll find videos, tool kits and more. Check out Healthy Competition HERE!

To read more about Jaime Moyer and his parenting experiences as a father of 8--yes 8!--click HERE!

Police using Social Media to Keep Tabs on Underage Drinking--You Can Too!

By Chrissie Dziembowski

The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board recently held a training for law enforcement professionals about how to use social networking sites, like Facebook and MySpace, to track illegal activity including: gang recruitment, underage drinking parties, and cyberbullying.

Some tips discussed in the training that you can implement in your home include:

• Having your family computer in a public/communal space in your home


• Becoming a member of social networking sites your children belong to


• Instead of forbidding the sites, learn to use them together, then youth aren't learning to navigate the site on their own--making them more susceptible to internet predators and scams
  
  To read the full story click HERE!

Guide to the Teenage Brain

By Chrissie Dziembowski

Is your teen rebelling against you? Obsessed with clothes and appearance? Glued to their phone/im/facebook/myspace/friends? Well, there is an actual scientific answer as to WHY they are acting this way!

Check out A Parent's Guide to the Teen Brain, from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, HERE to learn the science behind your teen's behavior, and skills, tools and tips to learn what you can do!

Stay safe and sober during prom and graduation!

By Chrissie Dziembowski

Its that time of year again--prom season and graduations! As you are charging your camera, stocking the fridge, and buying flowers and balloons, don't forget to consider ways to healthfully celebrate sans alcohol. Julie Mack, a parent and writer for the Kalamazoo Gazette of Michigan, recently wrote a wonderful and thoughtful article on the cost of social hosting and "how parents who host lose the most". To read the full story click HERE!

In her column, Mack references different fines and penalties in Michigan for providing alcohol to minors. In Pennsylvania, if an adult provides alcohol to minors it is considered a 3rd degree misdemeanor and may result in fines up to $2,500 and/or jail time up to 2 years. Its true--parents who host do lose the most!

If you suspect or know that someone in the community is hosting an underage drinking party, you can anonymously report it by calling 1-888-UNDER-21. This free, anonymous hotline is provided by Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking in partnership with the PA State Police. Use it--no one will know!

Lastly, as Carie Fletcher recently wrote in the Harris, Texas Police News:

Responsible parents and responsible teenagers can make high school celebrations a fun and lasting memory for everyone without the alcohol. Parents, teenagers, and communities have to work together to keep prom and graduation fun and safe!

Movie ratings can affect your child's choice to drink!

By Chrissie Dziembowski


Recently I was facilitating a prevention program in schools and did an ice-breaker activity to warm up the class. I asked everyone to tell me their name and favorite movie. In this class of 20, four students responded The Hangover--the movie that follows four men on a bachelor party trip to Las Vegas and all their drinking and drug-induced antics--and I must admit I was a bit surprised....

This was a middle school class with students in 7th and 8th grade!


Remembering that experience, I had to share this news about a study from Dartmouth Medical School that found children who watch R-rated movies are more likely to start drinking early on. This is an important factor to consider since children who drink alcohol before the age of 15 are 4 times more likely to abuse alcohol or become addicted/dependent later in life (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism). To read more about the Dartmouth study findings click HERE!

Let teens drink? Parents wrestle with the question

By Chrissie Dziembowski

Parental attitudes towards underage drinking is an important and influential factor in the likelihood of a child's/teen's choice to drink. CNN recently published an article about parents attitudes towards underage drinking. They interviewed a few parents, some who do not completely disapprove of underage drinking, and others who have suffered tragedy because of underage drinking. To read the complete story on CNN's website click HERE!

Although at times it may seem like your kids could care less about what you say, think, or feel, deep down they do! Your opinions and attitudes DO influence your child's choices, so it is essential to be clear on your stance regarding alcohol and drug use... as well as clothes, curfew, etc.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has a great website called The Power of Parents that provides tip to help parents talk to their kids about underage drinking (it is referenced in the CNN article above). The site has specific pages for parents with children in elementary, middle, and high school, and college, though the high school section is most complete. Talk to your kids today--you really can make a difference!