Study Finds 1,400 College Student Deaths Annually Related To Alcohol

Adolescents Can Become Addicted To Cigarettes Rapidly – addiction occurs in as little as a few weeks by taking just a few draws on a cigarette every other day

Alarm Sounded Over Teenage Binge Drinking 

Brain-Imaging Study Offers Clues to Inhalant Abuse – Toluene concentrates first in the brain’s reward centers then is redistributed around the brain. The findings are in agreement with clinical evidence that toluene abusers ("huffers") experience a rapid "high," and also suffer neurological symptoms such as ataxia (lack of coordination) and slurred speech.

How Common Is Binge Drinking on Campus?

Study Finds Some People Are 'Born To Smoke'  Only about one-third of the teenagers who experiment with tobacco go on to smoke regularly. What makes them different from kids who try a cigarette or two and decide smoking is not for them?

Adolescent Smokers Are More Susceptible To Long-Term DNA Damage From Smoking Than Adults Teen Smokers - Adolescent smokers appear to be more susceptible to long-term DNA damage associated with lung cancer than people who start smoking as adults, according to a study led by a UC San Francisco researcher that examined DNA damage in former smokers who have lung cancer.

Rising Teen Marijuana Use Is Fueled By Change In Attitudes  Changes in student attitudes about marijuana, not a general rise in rebellious or delinquent behavior among the teen-age children of baby boomers, are driving recent increases in the use of the drug by 8th-, 10th- and 12th-graders.

Adolescent Depression And High Receptivity To Tobacco Ads May Lead To Teen Smoking

Link Between Drinking At An Early Age And Future Abuse And Dependence Problems

Memory and Attention Impaired With Long-Term Marijuana Use

Mental Health Of Teenagers Who Use Cannabis: Results Of An Australian Survey
2Take10.com
Prevention Programs For High-Risk Youth Have Been Effective – study cites reduced rates of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use.

Guide for Parents and Other Caregivers - suggestions for “opening lines” and suggestions for talking, along with specific parenting strategies.

Limiting Adolescents' Exposure To R-Rated Movies May Help Prevent Early Use Of Alcohol And Tobacco

Tar-Struck Teens
More Teens Expected to Buy Cigarettes Online

Interventions for Preventing Tobacco Sales to Minors

Adolescents, Alcohol, And Substance Abuse: Reaching Teens Through Brief Interventions – this article is a Book Review. It is written for those who work with teen substance abusers and is based on the premise that substance abusing teens are different from their adult counterparts. The information is valuable for parents and teachers as well, but the book comes with a professional price ($37.00 from Guilford Press)
Your Kids Don't Smoke," a national parent-directed program that encourages parents to take 10 minutes to begin a dialogue about not smoking with their kids.
Teens Are Much Less Likely To Smoke If They Think Their Parents Disapprove Of The Habit
Methylphenidate (Ritalin) Early In Life May Blunt The Pleasurable Effects Of Cocaine In Adulthood
Marijuana Abuse May Increase Depression Risk
Inhalant Abuse - It often starts in grade school. It can lead to serious health problems and even death.
Herbal Cigarettes Are Just As Bad For You
Female Vulnerability to Drug Addiction Tied to Estrogen - Estrogen may make the brain more vulnerable to addiction, with the effects of this heightened susceptibility persisting even in the hormone's absence.
Reclassifying Cannabis Isn't Enough To Break The Link To Hard Drugs
Stimulant Treatment of Childhood ADHD May Prevent Substance Abuse
Drug-Using Teens Often Have Gambling Problems, Too
Negative Emotionality and Alcohol Abuse Go Hand-in-Hand – study focuses on teens
Sex Under the Influence of Alcohol and Other Drugs - Substance abuse may impair adolescents' ability to make judgments about sex and contraception
Drugs Widely Available in Schools
Peer-Run Group Advises Ecstasy Harm-Reduction Strategy - A controversial peer-lead is drawing strong reactions from both sides of the anti-drug war debate.
Early Age of First Drink Likely Symptom, Not Cause, of Alcoholism
Web Searches Lead to Dangerous Information About Drugs
School-Based Programs Can Be An Effective Component Of Statewide Anti-tobacco Efforts – success in Oregon
Drug Treatment Programs Can Work for Teens
Teen Smoking Linked to Anxiety, Depression
School Environment And Lack Of Knowledge Play Role In Teen Smoking
Australian Teen Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program Hailed A Success
Quitting Smoking Can Boost Girls' Self-Esteem - Adolescent girls who make the decision to quit smoking experience higher-than-average increases in self-esteem, researchers report.
Taxing Teens Pays Off - A recent massive, long-term study of 12,000 students shows that raising the tax on cigarettes deters teenagers from becoming regular smokers.
New Blood Alcohol Laws Redefine Drunk Driving - Lowering the legal blood alcohol level for drivers under 21 has reduced the number of younger people who drink and drive.
Smoking Vaccine on Radar Screen 
New Resource Guides on Substance Abuse Issues
Recent Advances: Pediatrics (Special Report) - An examination of four prominent pediatric health issues influenced by social or economic conditions: vertical transmission of HIV, vaccines, obesity, and teenage smoking.
Sentencing and Dispositions of Youth DUI and Other Alcohol Offenses

College Alcohol Problem Scale (CAPS)

Denial Rating Scale (DRS)

Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT)

Lower Blood Alcohol Limits Cut Teen Drunk Driving - Lowered blood alcohol limits for teenage drivers in 30 states have effectively reduced the amount of drinking and driving in this age group, according to the results of a new study.
A Two-Item Screen For Alcohol And Other Drug Problems - 2 simple questions can detect current substance abuse for 80% of young and middle-aged patients. At least one positive response to the TICS (In the last year, have you ever drunk or used drugs more than you meant to? and Have you felt you wanted or needed to cut down on your drinking or drug use in the last year?) detected current substance use disorders with nearly 80% sensitivity and specificity.
Programs Honored For Role In Helping To Fight Addictions 
A Drug Might Soon Be Available That Stops You Getting High If You Smoke Dope 

Sweet Booze Attracting Teen Drinkers, Consumer Group Says - “Hard lemonades” and other fruit-flavored malt drinks meant for adults old enough to drink are luring teen-agers, consumer advocates contend. 
New Teen Immigrants Less Likely To Smoke, Drink
Drug-Free Communities Support Program - This Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention fact sheet offers ideas.  
Get the Latest Christy Turlington Anti-Tobacco Poster - and it’s free from the US Centers for Disease Control (p.s., you also can get her first poster for free)  
Smokeless Tobacco Leads To Smoking In Young Men - Use of smokeless tobacco (SLT) is a predictor of smoking initiation in young adult males.  
Teen Smokers End Up With Gum Disease in Their 20s - Teenage smokers are nearly three times as likely as their nonsmoking peers to have gum disease in their mid-20s, results of a new study suggest.
Internet Offers Info On Hallucinogens - The Internet can provide everything anyone would want to know about how to acquire, manufacture, extract, identify, and use an enormous range of hallucinogenic agents--and little in the way of anti-drug messages.  
Colleges Urged To Deter Smoking - The college years are often when smoking becomes a lifelong habit.  
Teens On Drugs, Alcohol Also Carry Weapons Says Survey  
When Teen Smoking Hits To Close To Home  
US Issues Warning Against Household Chemical Abuse
Young Smokers Face Risk Of Heart Disease
Parenting is Prevention - Parents who want all the help they can get in talking to their kids about drugs can find tips, answers to hard questions and links to parent-friendly organizations from this Web site from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
March 18-24 is National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week  - Learn here what you need to know about inhalants, including some warning signs of use, from the White Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Partnerships Between Treatment and Justice System
Girls Who Diet Often May Be More Likely To Smoke
Movie Stars' On-Screen Smoking May Sway Teens -
Kids Today: Dumber Than Ever?  
Cocaine Use Decreases Ability to Respond to Stimulation - Researchers have found that a cocaine addict_s response to stimulation is decreased, indicating possible evidence that cocaine causes permanent brain damage
Probing the Riddle of Relapse - the answer is in your brain
African American Teens At Greater Risk Of Tobacco Addiction
Doctors Can Catch Teen Smoking Early - A few simple questions in the pediatrician's office may spot teen smokers before they become addicted.
Alcohol-Abusing Teens Risk Long-Term Problems -
School-Based Approach To Smoking Prevention Fails
Athletic Teens No Less Likely To Smoke, Drink
NarcKnowledge-Home Drug Test Kits - commercial site providing home drug test kits and drug abuse recognition information
Parents Guide on Teens & Drinking  - Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a 501(c)(3) non-profit grass roots organization with more than 600 chapters nationwide. MADD is not a crusade against alcohol consumption.
Study Takes Close Look At How Teens And Young Adults Share Secrets 
Youth Talk about Their "Anti-Drug" in USA Today - For free copies of this special insert, call the Office of National Drug Control Policy Clearinghouse at 800-666-3332.
US College Students Smoking More Marijuana
Teens Are Drinking Cough Syrup to Get High  
College Marijuana Use Growing -
Drug Dependence, a Chronic Mental Illness
Early Drinking Increases Lifetime Injury Risk
Smoking May Cause Depression in Teens 
Nicotine Addiction Can Start Within a Few Days and After Just a Few Cigarettes
Home Ban On Smoking May Keep Teens From Starting 
Tobacco Use By Teens Does Not Necessarily Indicate Nicotine Dependence 
What Is The "Gateway Theory" Of Drug Use Among Adolescents? - The gateway theory would argue that the first step you take toward a cigarette or a drink is the first step into pot, then other drugs.
Is Tobacco Industry Targeting Minority Teens?
Keeping Kids Tobacco-Free
Underage College Students Find Easy, Cheap Alcohol
Recreational Use Of Ritalin Feared -  Ritalin may be gaining popularity as a recreational drug for teens and pre-teens. More information here. 
Alcohol Abuse Affects Teens' Mental Functioning - The teen years of 15 and 16 are a time of sensitive brain development. These years are also a time when many teenagers begin to experiment with alcohol
Federally Funded Abstinence-Only Programs Fail to Reduce Teen Pregnancy
Parents can facilitate children's avoidance of alcohol abuse
Drug Trends for Teens
Keeping Score on Alcohol - a report from Drug Strategies, argues that the costs of alcohol abuse to society are 50 percent greater than all illicit drug abuse costs combined 
Teen Drinking Habits Influenced By TV and Their Parents 
"Teen Drug Use: 34 Warning Signs" - free booklet 
Explore "The Teen Years" on the Connect for Kids' Web site - find resources for parenting teens and helping kids stay away from alcohol, drugs and tobacco. Find links to reports and resources on substance abuse prevention and treatment in the Substance Abuse" topic page on Connect for Kids. 
Teens Smokers Influenced By Free Bags, Lighters  
Antismoking Ads On TV Effective Among Young Adolescents
Illegal Drug Use Patterns Considered by Teens in Choosing Friends  
Quitnet.com - Resources for those wanting to quit smoking. Information, support, latest research, and chat with expert counselor. Not a smoker but want to help a friend or loved one quit: visit this site.
Prevention of Teen Steroid Abuse
Teen Drinking and Behavior Problems
Family Meals May Prevent Teen Adjustment Problems; Teens Less Likely To Do Drugs  
Dangers of Club Drugs - a warning from Dr. Alan I. Leshner, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the launch of a major new research and community outreach initiative focusing on "club drugs" such as ecstasy, GHB and Rohypnol  
Teen Alcohol Related Injuries Drop With ER Counseling
Cocaine Use Can Lead To Aneurysms - a new study finds, for the first time, that cocaine use can lead to the development of aneurysms in heart arteries 
Teens Huffing to Get High - dangers of drug abuse in the kitchen cupboard 
Tourette's - Paroxetine may reduce rage reactions in young Tourette's patients 
Keep Kids Tobacco Free Online Workshop 
High nicotine, flavored cigarettes popular among teens 
National Clearninghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information HOME PAGE and QUICK FACTS PAGE 
Partnership for a Drug-Free America 
Marijuana - what parents need to know - from the U.S. National Inst. of Drug Abuse 
Fathers' role in family is related to teens' risk of substance abuse 
Youth suicide rate higher in states with lower drinking age 
National Institute on Drug Abuse 
Parental waffling may boost teens' marijuana usage  
Chronic, heavy cocaine abuse linked to long term impairment 
Parenting Articles by Linda Kondracki - Executive Director of Confident Kids, a support group program for children from addicted and dyfunctional families. 
ChristianRecovery.com 
Reality Check: Parents' Guide to Keeping Youth Drug-Free 
Keeping Kids Drug Free:  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
Cocaine and Crack 
Office of National Drug Control Policy 
Inhalants
Marijuana
Making decisions about drug abuse treatment
Talking to your teen about drugs
Teen Smoking
Dual Diagnosis - individuals with concurrent mental disorders and substance abuse disorders
Internet Addiction Site 1  Internet Addiction Site 2  Internet Addiction Site 3
Teens Who Drink Are More Likely To Be Sexually Active
Neighborhood Merchants Target Teens For Cigarette Sales
Street Drugs Information
Study Finds Some People Are 'Born To Smoke'
Rising Teen Marijuana Use Is Fueled By Change In Attitudes:
Boston Strategy Reduces Youth Crime, Violence
Brown & Williamson Launches Web Site
Baseball Fights Its Tobacco Traditions
Tobacco Ads Influence Teens
Study Finds Gender Differences In Why Smokers Light Up
Teen drunk driving rate stops falling
Drugnet