"Talk. They Hear You."
SAMHSA's underage drinking prevention PSA campaign helps parents and caregivers start talking to their children early-as early as nine years old-about the dangers of alcohol.
"Talk. They Hear You." aims to reduce underage drinking among youth ages 9 to 15 by providing parents and caregivers with information and resources they need to start addressing the issue of alcohol with their children early. The Campaign focuses on:
- Increasing parents' awareness of the prevalence and risk of underage drinking;
- Equipping parents with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to prevent underage drinking; and
- Increasing parents' actions to prevent underage drinking.
Campaign highlights:
For EVEN MORE parent resources, PSAs, and videos, visit samhsa.gov/underagedrinking.
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Danger in the Cupboards
Warning for parents and teens about the dangerous cinnamon challenge
NBC News Chief Medical Editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman and TODAY recently reported on a dangerous teen trend: the cinnamon challenge.
While this online stunt has been popular with teens for a while (you can find it all over YouTube), parents and adults are just learning about it - and the potentially harmful, even fatal consequences.
The fad involves daring someone to swallow a spoonful of ground cinnamon in 60 seconds without water. The spice is caustic, however, and trying to gulp it down can cause choking, throat irritation, breathing trouble and even collapsed lungs.
A recent American Academy of Pediatrics online article reported that at least 30 teens nationwide needed medical attention after taking the "challenge" and 178 calls were made to U.S. poison control centers in 2012 related to this stunt.
The New York Times reported equally disconcerting consequences of the trend, but their article also provides important information that parents need to know to talk with their teens about this hazardous stunt.
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SADD has resources to help parents start a conversation about difficult topics, such as risky trends like the cinnamon challenge, and dangerous behaviors like alcohol and other drug use.
Click here for the Contract for Life
Click here for Opening Lifesaving Lines
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Retail Reality Check
Advocacy groups challenge popular culture
The past few months have been an interesting time for two popular teen clothing retailers. Urban Outfitters and Abercrombie & Fitch have both faced scrutiny by advocacy groups and individuals alike who are deeply concerned about the negative messages the retailers are sending teens.
Urban Outfitters is currently selling pint glasses, flasks and shot glasses made to look like prescription pill bottles. These products make light of prescription drug misuse and abuse, a dangerous behavior that is responsible for more deaths in the United States each year than heroin and cocaine combined. Medicine abuse has increased 33 percent over the past five years with one in four teens having misused or abused a prescription drug in their lifetime.
Recent research from The Partnership at Drugfree.org shows teens and parents alike do not understand the health risks associated with the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. In fact, more than a quarter of teens mistakenly believe that misusing and abusing prescription drugs is safer than using street drugs.
Send a message to stop Urban Outfitters from selling products that promote prescription drug abuse. Click here to sign the petition!
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recent comments made by the company's CEO Michael Jeffries, and sat with A&F executives to discuss their concerns and ask for change. The controversy stemmed from Jeffries' comments about A&F marketing to "cool kids" and his refusal to offer larger sizes in the stores.
During the two-hour meeting, the advocacy committee made a number of suggestions, including that A&F:
- reconsider its position on size limitations (including elimination of size zero)
- expand its clothing line to be more inclusive of teen body types
- reduce the blatant sexualization of its ads and expand its choice of models
- consider diversity training for employees
- support NEDA's Proud2Bme and America the Beautiful's teen education programs in ways to ultimately be a corporate leader on anti-bullying and diversity.
An A&F spokesperson issued the following statement: "We welcomed the opportunity to meet ... to learn about the work they are doing. We look forward to continuing this dialogue and taking concrete steps to demonstrate our commitment to anti-bullying in addition to our ongoing support of diversity and inclusion. We want to reiterate that we sincerely regret and apologize for any offense caused by comments we have made in the past which are contrary to these values."
To follow this story or to learn more about NEDA, click here.
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Kidsinthehouse.com
The Ultimate Parenting Resource
~ Search and learn from over 8,000 videos from top experts and parents!
~ Connect with other parents and share your experiences!
~ Create your own shareable playlists!
~ And much more!
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Graduate, congratulate &
celebrate safely
Graduation party tips to keep teens safe
Congratulations to you and your teen for all of the accomplishments of the past four years! Keep these tips in mind for safe after-graduation celebrations.
Hosting a graduation party?
Remember that teens don't need or deserve alcohol to have a great time celebrating.
- Set clear rules in advance for the night of the party. Discuss the rules and consequences of breaking them with teens before the night begins and reinforce them.
- Rules should include: No drugs or alcohol and no leaving the party and then returning. Let them know you'll be stopping in occasionally.
- Take stock of the alcohol in your home prior to the night beginning.
- Offer non-alcoholic beverages and do not serve alcohol to adults who may be at the same party.
- Greet guests at the door. Watch for large bags that guests might use to sneak in alcohol. Have guests put their belongings in a room close to where you will be staying and monitor access to the room.
- Invite other parents to chaperone with you. Check your yard and number of guests frequently to avoid having guests who might leave and return without your knowledge.
- Make it clear that you will not allow any uninvited guests to crash the party.
- Be prepared if your rules are broken. Communicate these rules with other parents ahead of time so they understand the consequence if their son/daughter becomes a problem.
Sending your teen to a party?
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Wireless Leaders Unite for "It Can Wait" Campaign to Curb Texting While Driving
AT&T Joined by Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and 200+ Other Organizations to address texting and driving
 AT&T's It Can WaitŪ campaign to end texting and driving was significantly bolstered by the commitment of Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile US, Inc. and more than 200 other organizations (including SADD) to join the movement. Read the full press release here.Their efforts will support a new national advertising campaign, a nationwide texting-while-driving simulator tour, retail presence in tens of thousands of stores, and outreach to millions of consumers with a special focus throughout the summer months between Memorial Day and Labor Day - known as the 100 Deadliest Days on the roads for teen drivers. The highlight of the summer campaign will be a national day of action on Sept. 19 when It Can Wait advocates will reach out in their communities to raise awareness of the risks of texting while driving, encourage everyone to make a personal commitment not to text and drive and recruit others to join the growing ranks of advocates dedicated to saving lives by ending texting while driving.
GET INVOLVED TODAY!
SADD is a proud supporter of It Can Wait and has created a Speakers Bureau through which youth take the message about the dangers of texting while driving to community events, school assemblies and media interviews.
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MADD Analysis Finds Majority of Underage Drinking Deaths Not Traffic Related
In April, MADD reported that an analysis of 2010 data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that 32 percent of all deaths related to underage (age 15-20) alcohol use were traffic fatalities and 68 percent were other fatal incidents. Click here to learn more about PowerTalk21 - a resource for parents of teens to help guide the conversation about underage drinking.
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SAM: Smart Approaches to Marijuana
A Project of the Policy Solutions Lab
"We cannot promote a comprehensive system of mental health treatment and marijuana legalization, which increases permissiveness for a drug that directly contributes to mental illness." - Patrick J. Kennedy, SAM Chairman and former congressman
What is SAM? SAM is a bi-partisan alliance of organizations and individuals dedicated to a health-first approach to marijuana policy. SAM is comprised of professionals working in mental health and public health - medical doctors, lawmakers, treatment providers, preventionists, teachers, law enforcement officers and others - who seek a middle road between incarceration and legalization.Why should parents care? As an increasing number of states approve the legalization of medical marijuana, the potential for young people to have access to marijuana also increases. Parents need to know the risks of marijuana use - even one time use. How can I learn more? You can find out more about the issues, keep up to date with legislative activity in your state, connect with the SAM YouTube channel, and much more at:  IN THE NEWS: President Carter opposes marijuana legalization, supports Project SAM
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Pass it On! Pass it On! Pass it On!
Share this issue with others using the Forward this Email to a Friend Link below and visit us for resources, tips, and other parent info!
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