Facebook Drama or Real-Life Cry for Help?
Recent NY Times article explores how Facebook posts can offer clues of depression.
Millions of individuals, young and not-so-young, visit the world of Facebook on a daily basis. It is a social network that has altered the way that we communicate as a society, and as researchers recently discovered, is a tool that can be used to offer clues about depression, particularly among young adults.
A recent New York Times article, reported that researchers examining the profiles of 200 students at two large universities  determined that 30% of the users posted updates that met the American Psychiatric Association's criteria for a symptom of depression. While obviously a small sample to consider, the research does beg the question, "When should a friend/parent/colleague reach out?" to someone who may need help. Without face-to-face contact, but faced with a disturbing status update, when should a parent's 'alarm' kick in and when should you assume the update is simply a teen venting in a way that only adolescents can do?
As one parent (and therapist) suggested, parents should consider whether a post is typical of his/her son or daughter prior to responding, and if the child seems depressed at home. Parents reacting to every negative post, may end up discouraging openness with their teen, but thoughtfully considering the context and recent behavior, and responding in a low-key way may result in an open and supportive conversation.
To read the complete article, click here. For information on communication tools and tips, designed to foster open teen-parent conversation, visit parentteenmatters.org.
|
| |
Coming Together to Combat Underage Drinking: SAMHSA Town Hall Meetings
Every two years since 2006, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), sponsors Town Hall Meetings hosted by community-based organizations around the country. It is a powerful initiative, designed to empower communities to make positive changes to combat the problem of underage drinking.
In 2010, the last year that SAMHSA sponsored a series of Town Hall Meetings, over 1,700 communities hosted more than 2,000 events, with gatherings held in all 50 states, 4 territories, and the District of Columbia. These numbers demonstrate the fact that communities across the country recognize the importance of prevention efforts in the battle against underage drinking, and that all community members play a vital role in addressing this important issue. Parents certainly have a place at these Town Hall Meetings.
Expectations are that the number of Town Hall Meetings in 2012 will exceed those in previous years. Join these efforts, as a concerned and active parent. To find a Town Hall Meeting in your area, or to learn more about this effort, click here. |
| |
Easy-to-Read Drug Facts
NIDA Launches New Website
Interested in learning more about drug abuse, but stumped by some of the terminology and statistics that are often presented? NIDA recently launched a new website, "Easy-to-Read Drug Facts", to help provide adults and youth an accessible resource to learn more about this important issue.
Designed to be extremely user-friendly, this new site will help answer questions such as, "Why are drugs so hard  to quit?" and "Does drug treatment work?", and more. Visit this site to view engaging videos regarding drug abuse and addiction, and learn the science behind how drugs affect bodies and brains. Check it out today!
|
| |
|
See Something, Say Something
Disturbing Data Reveal Sensible Solutionsby Stephen Wallace, M.S. Ed.
New data from SADD (Students Ag ainst Destructive Decisions) and Liberty Mutual Insurance reveal that more young people are combining marijuana and driving, placing themselves - and often their friends - at risk.
Perhaps this shouldn't be a surprise given that the University of Michigan's recent Monitoring the Future study pointed out that marijuana use among eighth- to-12th graders rose in 2011 for the fourth straight year (as compared to substantial declines in the preceding decade) and that daily use of the drug among 12th graders is at a thirty year high.
But what may come as a surprise is that the number of teens who report driving under the influence of marijuana (19 percent) has surpassed those reporting driving under the influence of alcohol (13 percent). Oddly, many teens don't see that as a problem.
Read the rest of the opinion-editorial by Stephen Wallace, Senior Advisor for Policy, Research, and Education at SADD and author of Reality Gap: Alcohol, Drugs, and Sex-What Parents Don't Know and Teens Aren't Telling, here.
|
| |
Booze in the Movies:
What's the Impact?
A recently released study suggests that watching movies containing alcohol increases, in fact doubles, the likelihood that teens will start drinking. These same teens may also progress to binge drinking as well. Over a two-year period, more than 6,500 youth between the ages of 10 and 14 were surveyed about their alcohol use and the influential factors found in their lives, such as peer behavior, home environment, and movie viewing.
According to the research, youth who watched movies featuring alcohol use were twice as likely to start drinking and 63% more likel y to progress to binge drinking. Researchers went on to suggest that restrictions should be put in place regarding alcohol-product placement in movies, as are in place for tobacco products. "Product placement in movies is forbidden for cigarettes in the U.S.A., but is legal and commonplace for the alcohol industry, with half of Hollywood films containing at least one alcohol-brand appearance, regardless of film rating," James Sargent, of Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth Medical School in Lebanon, N.H., and colleagues wrote in the report.
For more information on ways that parents can help prevent alcohol use by youth, visit parentteenmatters.org or sadd.org.
|
| |
Got Drugs?
Dispose of Prescription Drugs and Support the National Take-Back Initiative
As part of the effort to address the growing problem of prescription drug abuse and misuse, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has scheduled the 4th National Prescription Take-Back Day for April 28, 2012. Prescription drugs that are expired,
unused, and/or unwanted will be collected for destruction at sites nationwide.
With rates of prescription drug abuse rapidly increasing at alarming rates, the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses are rising as well. These incidents are preventable.
Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. For more information on the Take-Back Initiative and to find drop-off locations near you, click here.
|
| |
|
