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Hookah Use in High Schools

While several decades ago cigarette smoking was associated with being cool, modern kids know better. SAMHSA reports that cigarette use has declined in recent years, which is welcomed news given the risks associated with tobacco use, from lung cancer to emphysema. Continue Reading

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Study Says Teens’ Sexual Behavior Impacted by Song Lyrics

What’s playing on a teen’s MP3 player or iPod can strongly impact their sexual choices and beliefs, says a new research study. For teen girls, sexually charged lyrics can also cause significant damage to their self-worth and body perception and possibly raise their risks for eating disorders.

Published in Sexuality & Culture, study authors from Utah’s Brigham Young University want parents and professional educators to know that their findings suggest a link between sexual lyrics and teen beliefs and behaviors toward sex. The authors’ findings fall into alignment with previous studies stating there’s a strong connection between exposing teens to sexual content on TV, in movies and through music and their sexual behaviors.

Not only do certain types of sexual lyrics seem to impact teen behaviors, according to a recent Medical News Today article, they also impact the way teens think about their peers’ sexual activity. Researchers believe the lyrics may lead teens to believe their peers are more highly involved in sexual behaviors, contributing to the strong effect of peer pressure to also become more involved in sex.

For girls, sexually charged song lyrics can also contribute to low self-esteem, a decline in body acceptance and a potentially higher risk of eating disorders, as well as problems with drug and alcohol use. They may also be more likely to experiment sexually or view themselves as a sexual object. Males may respond to sexual lyrics with aggressive behaviors toward women.

The connection between sexually themed music and teen behaviors has also gained strength by the sheer quantity of music teens and grade-schoolers are listening to. Studies suggest their usage of personal music players has grown by 45 percent in recent years.

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Social Networking Associated with Alcohol and Marijuana Use

Facebook has provided a new unknown for parents. Just as parents in the 1980s and 1990s may have felt uneasy about the introduction of rental movies and cable television into their worlds, parents now are aware that there might be risks associated with social networking. Continue Reading

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Cell Phones, Low Self-Esteem Cited as Reasons Teens Become Addicted to Online Porn

Today, sex addiction is topping the list when it comes to dangerous teen behaviors. One reason, say teens and experts alike, is that cell phones are making the material easier to access than ever. Continue Reading

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‘Robo Tripping’ – the New High in Town

Beware parents; a new drug trend is in town. It’s relatively inexpensive, and your child doesn’t have to look any further than home to get it. ‘Robo Tripping,’ or getting high on cough syrups such as Robitussin are becoming more popular amongst teens. In fact, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that data from a 2006 survey revealed that approximately 3 million adolescents aged 12 to 25 admitted to abusing cough syrup to get high. Continue Reading

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Program Targets Children’s Skills to Refuse Smoking, Alcohol at an Early Age

A new program is helping teach children and teens how to refuse smoking and alcohol, and it’s more than just giving them the reasons how it can destroy their lives. Continue Reading

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How To Help Your Younger Sibling Who’s Starting To Drink

It can be tough to be an older child – especially when you discover your younger sibling is experimenting with alcohol. Come down too hard on your brother or sister and you’re likely to push him or her even harder into drinking. Try to ignore the situation and you’re not doing either one of you any good. So, what’s the best way to handle this? How can you help your younger sibling who’s starting to drink?

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Teens’ Attitudes Dangerously Shifting Toward Ecstasy, Marijuana and Alcohol

Ecstasy and marijuana are higher on U.S. teens’ radar than they’ve been in recent years, says a study. Even more troublesome are the study findings that teens are also more accepting toward alcohol consumption.

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Teen Mothers and Substance Abuse

Those who begin using alcohol and drugs during their teen years are especially susceptible to continuing to use these substances as they mature into adulthood. When the teen is a young mother, however, the effects of substance abuse affect small children and it is important for these individuals to seek treatment

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New Site Asks: Are You an Accidental Drug Dealer?

You’ve probably heard the stats:  prescription drug abuse has long outpaced illegal drug abuse, and more people are admitted to emergency rooms due to overdoses from opiates and other prescription drugs than from cocaine and other illegal drugs. If you’re a parent, you should be thinking about what’s in your medicine cabinet, and the medicine cabinet’s of your kids’ friends, because that might be where they find their first high. Continue Reading