4 Troubled Teens Blog

Communities That Care, a program designed to reduce the rate of substance abuse among U.S. eighth-graders, has reported significant progress.

Among adolescents who participated in the program, alcohol use has been reduced by 25 percent, binge drinking has declined by 37 percent, and use of smokeless tobacco has decreased by 50 percent.

• The university-designed program is in place in12 small and medium-sized towns in seven different states.
  
• Each city was matched with a town of similar size, which did not employ the program, as a way to test the impact of the program.
  
• Communities That Care started in 2004 and now involves more than 4,400 teens.

A study of the program appeared in the journal Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Labels: prevention, substance_abuse, community, adolescent

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A study of 1,178 young people between the ages of eight and 18 years old found that 88 percent played video games, and almost one in ten shows several symptoms of being addicted to them.

The study, which was led by Dr. Douglas Gentile of the University of Iowa, found that 12 percent of the boys and 8 percent of the girls who played games had at least six out of eleven symptoms of addiction. Those who were addicted to the games were twice as likely to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Children had signs of addiction if they agreed to the following statements:

• They skipped homework to play games.


• They played to escape their problems.


• They were restless and irritable if not allowed to play.


• They lied about how much they played.


• They had stolen a game or stolen money for a game.


• They had poor test scores because they neglected homework to play video games.


• They had tried to quit and failed.


• They thought excessively about gaming.

Though many enthusiasts incorrectly employ the word "addiction" when discussing the object of their passion, video game addiction has been identified as a legitimate mental health disorder that can be treated with effective professional intervention.

Labels: video_games, addictions, teens, adolescent

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Officer Al Cruz spent 20 years as an Army Ranger. In 2003, he joined the police force, and last summer he started a soccer league, aimed at reaching out to at-risk youth. Every Monday evening he can be seen in a Springfield, Virginia gym, trying to hold his own against a group of middle school students.

After the match, he assembles the players on the bleachers. Each opportunity to connect may be his last ... He starts talking about drugs and gangs. Most of these boys aren't into drugs gangs, but a few are on the edge. (Source: The Washington Post)

Cruz worries that, as winter gives way to spring, Monday night soccer will lose its appeal and the kids will be back on the streets. The first day of summer soccer arrives, with torrential rain and gusty winds. But 40 kids show up anyway. Forty kids in the rain, Cruz calculates, means 200 kids on a sunny day. Two hundred kids staying out of trouble and learning to be part of a team.

Officer Cruz's effort is the latest in a long line of mentoring programs that have been established to provide guidance, direction, and motivation for troubled or at-risk adolescents and teenagers.

Labels: sports, mentoring, teenagers, adolescent

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Current statistics tell us that about one in five teenagers intentionally abuse prescription drugs. While parents and teachers may be aware of the problem of teen prescription drug abuse, they may not realize that it is so prevalent. What has caused such a dramatic increase in this type of drug abuse? An Oregon newspaper cited three causes for the rise in prescription medication abuse among teens and adolescents: availability, access, and awareness.

Availability: There are many prescription and over-the-counter drugs that have potential for abuse. They are being used more frequently and are readily available. Access: The drugs are easy to get ... Awareness: The visibility of these drugs has increased through television advertisements. (Source: Statesman Journal)

There is also a general attitude among teenagers that prescription drugs are less risky than illicit street drugs because they come from a doctor. Parents, teachers and other adults need to help raise awareness about the dangers of prescription drugs, and parents need to make sure that their medications are locked up and inaccessible.

Labels: prescription_drug_abuse, teenagers, adolescent

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Troubled teens who participate in residential treatment programs maintain healthier outlooks and function more productively long after they leave the program, says a new study. Conducted by Canyon Research & Consulting, the study followed over 1000 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 for a year after they were discharges from a residential program.

"'In this final phase of the study we found that those teens who showed 'normal' post-treatment results at the time of discharge continued to be ranked in the normal range a year later.'"

This is one of the first studies of its kind that documents the long-term benefits of residential programs. Up to this point, most residential treatment facilities had to rely on anecdotal evidence and individual success stories. This new study provides vital information for families who are struggling over the decision about what do to with a troubled teen. Read more online.

Labels: treatment_programs, adolescent, residential_treatment_centers

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