Troubled Teens

Young People Whose Brains Mature More Quickly More Likely to Take Risks

A study from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, found that teens whose brains mature more quickly than the average are more likely to take risks.

Dr. Gregory Berns performed a new form of brain scan called diffusion tensor imaging on 91 people ages 12 to 18 years old.
He also asked them about their risk-taking, including whether they drive without a license, practice unprotected sex, or use drugs.
The ones who took the most risks tended to have more mature white matter in their brains.

“Adolescents who engage in risky behaviors obtain more experience in a variety of domains," Dr. Berns wrote in his report. "Their more conservative peers, in contrast, do not have as much life experience and therefore might be expected to have more mature brains.”

However, this was proven untrue. In other words, having a more mature brain may make some adolescents more likely to seek out new (and potentially dangerous) experiences.

Labels: brain_chemistry, research, risky_behaviors

Fears of Early Death Prevalent Among Teens

One in seven teenagers, or about 15 percent, believe that they have only a 50 percent chance of living to age 35 -- a fear that experts have associated with greater risk-taking.

Teams who share this pessimistic attitude tend to engage in dangerous behaviors such as attempting suicide, using illegal drugs, getting into fights that require medical care, engaging in unprotected sex.

The results of these behaviors include being arrested, falling behind in school, experiencing developmental delays, and contracting diseases including HIV/AIDS.

These findings are the result of a new study from the University of Minnesota:

Dr. Wagman Borowsky and his colleagues studied 20,594 teenagers in the seventh through 12th grades.
Dr. Borowsky's team interviewed the teens periodically to obtain their views on personal mortality and to find out the degree to which they engaged in risky behaviors.
Minority youth tended to be more pessimistic about how long they would survive.

The study appeared in the journal Pediatrics.

Labels: attitudes, death, risky_behaviors

Suicide Risk Doubles Among Teens Whose Families Move Frequently

It's no secret that moving is as stressful (if not more so) for children as it is for parents. But a new study has found that it may be far more harmful that previously thought.

The degree to which frequent moves can inflict psychological damage on young people was the topic of a June 26 article by MSNBC.com contributor Linda Carroll:

Psychologists have known for years that moves can be distressing for kids. But a new study shows that the impact on some adolescents may be far more devastating than anyone thought. The study, published in the Archives of Psychiatry, found that kids aged 11 to 17 were twice as likely to attempt suicide if their families moved three or more times compared to those who had never moved.

And, if the family moved more than 10 times, the children were four times as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who had never moved.

For the new study, researchers looked at data from 4,160 Danish children who were brought to hospitals after attempting suicide, as well as 79 who had succeeded in their suicide attempts. These children, all between the ages of 11 and 17, were compared to 124,800 adolescents who had not made suicide attempts.

"Adolescence is an inherently turbulent time for children, and moves may be more traumatic in some cases," the study's lead author, Dr. Ping Qin of the University of Aarhus in Aarhus, Denmark, told MSNBC.

Labels: family, risky_behaviors, suicide

More Teens Learning about Dangers of Drugs

The 2008 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America has been released, and some of the findings are very encouraging. Among the highlights is a dramatic increase in the number of teens who say they have talked to their parents about drugs.

"The study revealed a major increase in the number of teens who reported 'learning a lot' about the risks of drugs from their parents: 37 percent reported this, a 16 percent increase from the previous year. This is the first major increase in this area since the study began 20 years ago."

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas said this information seems to indicate that parents and teens are finding some common language, and that the conversations are having a real impact. Source: NH Insider

Labels: drugs, parents, risky_behaviors

Study Says Teens Receiving Substandard Medical Services

A new study from the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine found that teenagers are not receiving good health care services.

Researchers looked at young people ages 10 to 19, and found that doctors screen only a small percentage for risky behaviors that lead to car crashes, drug addiction, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Teens go to their doctors most often for sports check-ups or vaccinations, and these appointments usually last fifteen minutes. The NRC researchers noted that it takes 40 minutes to perform a thorough examination, including counseling about behaviors such as overeating, getting enough exercise, wearing seatbelts, using condoms, and other important issues.

Five million Americans under age 20 do not have health insurance.

Labels: health, risky_behaviors

Genes Make You Break Rules, Making You More Popular

A University of Michigan study found that males who are rule-breakers tend to be popular, and that their behavior has a genetic basis.

Professor Alexandra Burt collected DNA samples from over 200 male college students, and then had them interact for an hour. Afterward, participants filled out questionnaires about which participants they liked best.

The most popular in the study had a certain gene associated with rule-breaking behaviors.

"The gene predisposed them to rule breaking behaviors and that rule breaking behavior made them more popular," Dr. Burt said in her report published in the Journal of Personality and Social Development.

Labels: genetics, popular, risky_behaviors

Teens Who Take Risks Do So In More Than One Area of Life

Teenagers who take risks in one area of their lives tend to take risks in others, according to a new study from the Mailmen School of Health.

Professor John Santelli analyzed data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey of high school students taken between 1991 and 2007. He found that those who engage in high-risk behaviors such as texting while driving or using alcohol were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors such as having multiple partners and not using condoms.

However, he noted that high-risk behaviors are declining among teenagers, particularly in three areas: More teens are delaying sex, using condoms, and reducing their number of partners.

This study appears in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Labels: health, risky_behaviors

Surveys Report Increasing Levels of Sexual Experimentation Among U.S. Youth

Two new studies found that teenagers are engaging in increasing levels of sexually experimental behavior, and that girls are catching up to boys in this area.

The first study, which was based on a survey of 1,280 young people, looked at technology and sexual behaviors. One in five teenagers said they have sent or posted nude or semi-nude pictures or videos of themselves, usually to romantic partners. Among survey respondents between the ages of 20 and 26, 33 percent had posted such pictures and 50 percent had received them.

Girls posted or sent more sexual pictures than boys did. The numbers were 22 percent of teen girls compared to 20 percent of teen boys, and 36 percent of young adult women compared to 31 percent of the men. More than half of the teen girls cited "pressure from a male" as a reason to send out sexual pictures of themselves, but only 18 percent of the boys answered that way. The most common reason given to send the pictures was to be "fun and flirtatious."

Three-fourths of the teens were aware that "sending suggestive content can have serious negative consequences."

The study was sponsored by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unwanted Pregnancy and CosmoGirl magazine.

A major new study from the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research found that anal sex among young people is increasing, particularly among teens who do not use condoms.

Within this study, males who in the practice were more likely to be homosexual, bisexual or undecided, whereas the females were more likely to have been coerced into sex, to have two or more partners, and to be living with a sexual partner.

Teen sex expert Judy Kuriansky, a professor at Columbia University, warned that teens engage in anal sex to avoid AIDS or pregnancy; however, the problem is that they can contract AIDS and other health problems in this way.

Commenting on the Hasbro study, Dr. Kuriansky remarked that girls are now experimenting with sexual practices in the same way boys always have.

Labels: risky_behaviors, sex

A Painful Reminder of Drinking Dangers

The recent death of a Massachusetts teenager is a painful reminder of the dangers of teen drinking. The 17-year-old was found in the woods a few days after she'd gone missing from a Friday night teenage party.

"[Richard] Gallagher said the brains of adolescents are different from adults and they... progress from a 'little high' to 'very drunk' rapidly... Teenagers can quickly drink, get alcohol poisoning, pass out and get hurt or killed."

Sadly, despite all the warnings, few teens believe they're at risk when they drink, which means occurrences of underage drinking continue at alarmingly high rates. To counter this behavior, experts advise parents to talk to their teens about the dangers of drinking, and to set clear rules about alcohol. Source: The Sun Sentinel (MA)

Labels: alcohol_poisoning, drinking, risky_behaviors

Risky Behavior Unchanged Among Teens

A recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by State University College in New York found that teens are continuing to engage in risky behavior at about the same rates as they always have.

"In 2007, we still had 72 percent of high schoolers having used alcohol, 37 percent having smoked pot and 39 percent having had sex."

The news is discouraging for some, encouraging for others. There has been a slight decline in overall substance abuse in the past decade; a decline which is credited to the increase in anti-drug campaigns across the country. Source: The Daily Star (NY)

Labels: risky_behaviors, sex, substance_abuse

Energy Drinks Linked to Self-Destructive Behaviors

A new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health links the consumption of energy drinks with substance abuse, unsafe sexual practices, and other self-destructive behaviors.

Researchers at the University of Buffalo in New York surveyed 800 college undergraduates for their study. The ones who consumed energy drinks were three times more likely to smoke, abuse drugs, and become physically violent.

More than two-thirds mixed the highly caffeinated energy beverages with alcohol, falsely believing that caffeine counteracts the numbing effect of alcohol.

The researchers speculated that the drinks themselves contribute to the self-destructive behaviors by chemically altering the body.

"Young people's bodies are physiologically not matured yet, so this kind of stuff has a greater impact on them than it does on adults," said Bernie Storms, director of the Family Guidance Center for Behavioral Healthcare addiction treatment services. "Also, when someone comes down off of alcohol and caffeine at the same time, they are not going to feel very well at all."

Labels: desctructive-behaviors, energy-drinks, risky_behaviors

Teens Think They're Invincible

A study of Toronto high school students found that many of them were oblivious to the danger they were in when they engaged in risky behavior.

"Asked about their sense of risk, most students said they believed having youth on their side would allow them to overcome almost any kind of adversity, from poor driving conditions to the effects of alcohol or drugs while behind the wheel."

The study's authors hope the information can be used to improve injury-prevention programs. Source: The Canadian Press

Labels: consequences, risky_behaviors

Self-Harm Linked to Risky Sexual Behavior in Teens

A study conducted by researchers at the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center found a connection between self-harm and sexual behavior among teenagers. The report appears in the June issue of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

"...frequent self-cutters - teens who have cut themselves more than three times - used condoms less consistently, were more likely to share cutting instruments, and had less self-restraint. The study is the first to examine whether these teens engage in the same level of risk behaviors as those who've only experimented with cutting once or twice."

The study revealed important distinctions between teens who self-harm more regularly and teens who have only done so once or twice. Researchers hope the new information will help the medical community better identify and treat these two distinct groups of troubled teenagers. Source: Medical News Today

Labels: risky_behaviors, self-harm, sex

Energy Drinks Linked to Risky Behaviors in Teens

A new study from the University of Buffalo found that teens who consume "energy drinks" are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as substance abuse, unprotected sex, and violence.

Lead author Kathleen Miller, writing in the Journal of American College Health, emphasizes that her study does not prove that the drinks cause the behaviors.

About one-third of young people ages 12 to 24 regularly consume energy drinks, which often contain twice the caffeine found in a strong cup of coffee.

Labels: caffeine, risky_behaviors, substance_abuse

Hispanic Teens More Prone to Risky Behavior

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on teenagers and risky behavior was mostly good, with overall numbers down among the observed groups. But researchers noted a disturbing trend among Hispanic teens - that they're more likely to drink alcohol, use drugs, and have sex than are their Caucasian or African-American counterparts.

"Experts were unable to come up with an explanation for why Hispanic behavior trends differed. However, they speculated that school environments many Hispanics face may differ considerably from what adolescents of other races encounter."

Because the reasons for increased risky behavior were unclear, experts have yet to suggest solutions, but are working toward that end. The study's results come from surveys taken by about 14,000 U.S. high school students. Source: ABC News.

Labels: drinking, drug_use, risky_behaviors

Risky Behavior Linked to Energy Drinks

Their names say it all: "Full Throttle," "Amp," and "Redline." Energy drinks are all the rage among teenagers and young adults. There has long been a concern about the health risks associated with these high caffeine drinks, but now there is another concern - risky behavior.

"In March, The Journal of American College Health published a report on the link between energy drinks, athletics, and risky behavior. The study's author, Kathleen Miller... says it suggests that high consumption of energy drinks is associated with 'toxic jock' behavior, a constellation of risky and aggressive behaviors including unprotected sex, substance abuse, and violence."

The findings don't mean that the drinks cause bad behavior, but rather that regular consumption may be an indicator for parents and teachers of children who are more inclined toward taking risks. Source: International Herald Tribune

Labels: caffeine, nutrition, risky_behaviors

Values Can Serve as a Buffer

Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have found that a teenager's values helped determine how he would respond to violent behavior at school. The study was conducted via questionnaires that were given to 907 Jewish and Arab students in grades 10 through 12 that attended separate schools.

"In both Arab and Jewish schools, adolescents who value power... reported more violent behavior than their peers. Teenagers who valued universalism... and those who valued conformity... reported less violent behavior than their peers."

The study's findings emphasize the important role parents and other caregivers have in teaching their kids about good, moral behavior. Source: MediLexicon News

Turn-About Ranch is a real working teen ranch camp were teenagers learn about traditional values such as honesty and hard work. Visit TurnAboutRanch.com to learn more.

Labels: risky_behaviors, values, violence

Kids Need Better Coping Skills

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that for every child ages 10-14 who commits suicide, 100 to 200 others attempt to kill themselves. The statistic is alarming; as alarming as the fact that suicide is the third leading cause of death in this age group.

"For a long time we've talked about the crucial hours between school dismissal and parents getting home from work - those minutes and hours when latch key kids are home alone. This time and place is the most common for suicides..."

Sudden changes in mood or habits are often signs that something is seriously wrong with a young person. If he isn't able to properly cope with what he's feeling, he may view suicide as his only way out. It's important for parents to know the warning signs, but equally important that they help their kids learn how to express their thoughts and emotions in healthy ways. Source: Salem (Ohio) News

Labels: coping_skills, risky_behaviors, suicide

Self-Injury Growing Among Teens

Health experts are urging parents, teachers and others to be alert to signs of self-injurious behavior in adolescents, which is become more frequent.

"There are no exact numbers for this largely hidden problem, but anonymous surveys among college students suggest that 17 percent of them have self-injured, and experts estimate that self-injury is practiced by 15 percent of the general adolescent population."

Self-injury is rarely driven by thoughts of suicide, but rather by deep emotional responses that the teen doesn't know how to process. Self-injurious behavior includes carving or cutting the skin, ripping or pulling skin or hair, head banging needle sticking, pinching and biting. Source: International Herald Tribune.

Labels: risky_behaviors, self-harm, self_injury

Study Finds 1-in-4 Teen Girls Has STD

A first-of-its kind study has found that one in four teenage girls likely has a sexually transmitted disease. The study was conducted by researching a cross-section of medical records for 893 girls nationwide.

"The teens were tested for four infections: human papillomavirus, or HPV, which can cause cervical cancer and affected 18 percent of the girls studied; Chlamydia, which affected 4 percent; trichomoniasis, 2.5 percent; and genital herpes, 2 percent."

Though the data is based on records from 2003-2004, most believe it reflects current prevalence rates among teen girls. Some blame abstinence-only sex education programs that don't teach kids how to protect themselves if they do decide to have sex. Read more at Star-Telegram.com.

Labels: risky_behaviors, sex, sexually transmitted_diseases

Risky Trends Parents Need to Know

At a recent forum comprised of law enforcement officials, safe driving organizations, and others, parents were presented with information about new, risky trends of which they may not be aware. Hosted by the Tustin Unified School District and the Assistance League of Tustin, roughly 200 parents attended the forum.

"[Tustin parent Silvana] Difilippo was shocked when officers showed her gadgets that they have confiscated. There was a Pepsi bottle that twists open in the center to hide alcohol in the middle section. To the side was a CD case with a scale to weigh drugs."

Speakers included parents, police officers, sheriff's deputies, and California Highway Patrol officers. Read more at OCRegister.com.

To stay informed about teen trends and for parenting advice, sign up for the Parenting Tips Newsletter. This bi-weekly newsletter offers help for parents of troubled teens. Sign up here.

Labels: awareness, risky_behaviors, trends

Reach Out to Troubled Teen

Steve and Lynelle are advice columnists for the Herald Bulletin in Anderson, Indiana. They recently received a cry for help from someone worried about a little sister (14-years-old) who become rebellious and may be involved in drugs and alcohol.

"What should you and your family do? You need to enter into her life, get to know her again and ignore the abuse she's going to dish out while you attempt to bring her back into the fold. Do things with her, include her in family matters and don't take no for an answer."

They also suggest that it's time for this teen to be cut off from the friends who are encouraging her rebellious behavior. They acknowledge that she will kick and scream at these changes but that, in the long run, she will benefit from them. Read more at TheHeraldBulletin.com.

Need help for your troubled teen? Turn-About Ranch offers programs for troubled teens that have been proven to work.

Labels: influences, prevention, risky_behaviors

Dealing with the Abuse Cycle

Child sexual abuse used to be an extremely taboo subject. But more people are willing to talk, and so are more children – which is a necessary first step if the child is going to heal from such a traumatic event.

"'Sometimes it can be very intense when a child is explaining a story, some of the allegations society can't even fathom,' said [Kristi] Turner. 'It's hard for me being in this profession being used to heard those stories, but people who aren't in this profession would be totally shocked by some of the things that we hear.'"

Children who are sexually abused are at an increased risk of developing eating disorders, abusing drugs or alcohol, failing in school and becoming victims of domestic violence. They need to know that it's ok to tell someone, so that they can get help.

A private boarding school, like the Academy at Swift River, can offer teens a safe environment where they can focus on academics and personal growth. Visit SwiftRiver.com for more information about their therapeutic boarding school program for troubled teens.

Labels: child_abuse, risky_behaviors, trauma

Teen Dating Violence Leads to Risky Health Behavior

Teens that have been abused by dating partners are more likely to develop risky behaviors like eating disorders and suicidal thoughts. A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis compared the behaviors of boys and girls who had experienced dating violence with those who hadn't.

"Both boys and girls who had experienced dating violence were more likely to display three or more of 10 behavioral and psychological health problems including binge eating, cigarette smoking, alcohol or marijuana use, depressive symptoms and low self-esteem, the researchers found. The relationship was particularly strong for girls."

Dr. Diann Ackard suggested that parents ask questions about teens' relationships; particularly how they feel when they're with certain people – which can help determine whether the teen is at risk of being abused.

Copper Canyon Academy is a residential treatment center for troubled girls. By offering accredited academics and therapy, Copper Canyon helps girls get back on track.

Labels: dating, risky_behaviors, violence

Consider Spring Break Alternatives

A Coalition for Drug-Free Youth in Long Island, New York has taken a strong stand against spring break trips that aren't chaperoned or endorsed by a school or other organization. Citing increases in violence, arrests and other dangerous activity, the Coalition has requested that parents consider safer alternatives for their kids.

"The U.S. Consulate in Merida, Mexico, whose territory includes Cancun, says that during the eight-week spring break period in 2002, U.S. students accounted for two deaths, 360 arrests, four injuries that required medical evacuations out of the area, one rape, 495 reports of lost or stolen property and 504 'general welfare inquiries'."

Similar statistics are found at other popular spring break locations, like Daytona Beach. Some of the alternatives suggested by the Coalition include: family events or vacations, trips with other families, and taking the student to visit potential colleges.

Also, learn about alternatives to traditional summer camps too - instead of sitting out, or worse - getting into trouble - have your child spend the summer working on themselves. Visit www.alternativesummercamps.com for more information.

Labels: risky_behaviors, spring_break, travel

Teen Gambling a Growing Concern

A recent study in New York State found that students are beginning to gamble at a younger age. Fifty public and private schools were polled for the study.

"The numbers come from the State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. It found that one out of every five young people in grades seven through12 gamble - that's 300,000 students statewide."

The DePaul Problem Gamblers Program says blame lies in the ease with which young people can gamble in New York, not just in the lottery, but in casinos and racinos. Ray Scott, from Problem Gamblers, says that in addition to the economic ruin that can occur, gambling has a higher rate of suicide than any other form of addiction.

Teens struggling with risky behaviors, such as gambling or teen drug use, can find the help they need at an adolescent residential treatment center. Find one at BoardingSchoolsInfo.com.

Labels: gambling, risky_behaviors, teen_issues

'Choking Game' can be Deadly

In the past 22 months, 150 children have died in the U.S. as a result of a game often called 'The Choking Game' or 'Blackout'. The goal of the game is to achieve a feeling of euphoria that's caused when the flow of blood and oxygen is first cut off from the brain, then allowed to come rushing back.

"The game and its addictive high is decades old, said Michelle Borba, an educational psychologist in California who has studied dangerous childhood games...'While it's never safe, the trend that's the scariest now is that kids, once they've played it on a dare or with friends at a party, will try it again alone...'"

In order to disrupt the flow of blood and oxygen, kids put pressure on the arteries in their necks, usually by tying something around their necks and essentially choking themselves. Some experts think many more kids may have died from this game than are reported, because accidental asphyxiations can look like suicides. It's game that parents need to be aware of and need to be talking about with their kids. Look for warning signs like marks around the neck or bloodshot eyes.

Like choking each other, teens often engage in risky behaviors such as drug use because they don't know the dangers. Learn how you can help at the Teen-Help-Directory.

Labels: death, euphoria, risky_behaviors

Almost Half of All Teens Injure Their Own Bodies

A new study from Brown University found that 46% of teen report "self-injury." However, the study included not only cutting or burning oneself, but also getting a tattoo, pulling out hair, or picking at a sore until it bled.

Elizabeth Lloyd-Richardson and her colleagues surveyed 633 high school students. Those who admitted to self-injury said that they did it to feel in control, to stop bad feelings or to get someone's attention.

Other studies have indicated that about 20% of girls and 17% of boys self-injure. This new study appears in the August 2007 issue of Psychological Medicine.

ByParents-ForParents offer help for parents of troubled teens on a variety of topics ranging from dating, to cyberbullying, to cutting.

Labels: cutting, risky_behaviors, self-harm

Teens Have Liberal View of Definition of Virginity

Young people define virginity and abstinence from drugs and alcohol in more liberal terms than adults, according to a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

In a survey by the Prevention Search Center and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, researchers interviewed 1100 teenagers of representative age, gender, ethnicity and sexual experience. About one in four believe that a person who engages in anal or vaginal intercourse remains a virgin. A majority believe that abstinence is related to how long you avoid certain behaviors such as sex, drug use or drinking.

The authors concluded that adolescents probably underestimate the dangers of contracting sexually transmitted diseases from oral sex and other behaviors and could benefit from better sex education programs.

Teens can also have liberal views on when teen drug use turns into teenage drug addiction. Learn how you can help at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: risky_behaviors, sex, virginity

Tearaway Teens

Teens in Scotland are become the subject of much talk and speculation. As teen violence increases and parental guidance decreases, teens are beginning to terrorize their communities.

"Closer to home, teenage gangs have disrupted life for residents in Granton Crescent, driving at least three families from their homes because of their wayward and uncontrollable behavior, while earlier this month a gang of around 20 teenagers attacked an elderly man in Minto Street before boarding a bus then smashing three of its windows."

Youth workers and other experts remind parents that setting boundaries in a necessary part of parenting. Children need to learn, at an early age, that some behavior is simply unacceptable. Building a solid relationship with your child will make the issue of boundaries an easier one. Read more at Living.Scotsman.com.

An increase in violence can be the result of teen drug and alcohol abuse. Learn how to keep you teen safe and away from drugs and alcohol at the Teen-Help-Directory.

Labels: behavioral_issues, risky_behaviors, violence

Programs Help Troubled Teens

There are a lot of programs out there designed to help troubled or at-risk youth. Wendy Ponte found four such programs that reach out teens in unique ways.

"What really blew my preconceptions about teens out of the water was talking to some of the young people involved in these programs. Sure, people in this age range, roughly from 13 to 21, still have a lot of growing up to do. But these particular young people, by the time they hit their thirties, will have ended up miles ahead of almost everyone I know, regardless of age."

The programs highlighted by Ponte include CityKids, Art in Action Youth Leadership, Seeds of Peace, and Chat the Planet. Read more at Mothering.com.

You can find help for parents of troubled teens at ByParents-ForParents.com.

Labels: at_risk, risky_behaviors, treatment_programs

Virginity Pledges Not Much Help

Yale and Columbia Universities have released a study which shows that teens who take virginity pledges aren't any less likely to catch sexually transmitted diseases than teens that don't make the pledge. The pledging teens may wait longer before having sex, but when they do, they're less likely to use a condom and are more likely to experiment with riskier sexual behavior.

"Virginity pledges emerged in the early 1990s based on the theory that young people would remain chaste if they had stronger community support - or pressure - to remain abstinent. Programs vary, but in most cases teenagers voluntarily sign a pledge or publicly announce their intention to abstain from sex."

Over 60% of the young people who participated in the survey-based study and took virginity pledges reported having sex before they were married. Additionally, just 2% of teens who didn't take virginity pledges said they had had anal or oral sex, as opposed to 13% of those who had taken the pledges. Read more at WashingtonPost.com.

Is your teen engaging in risky behaviors like sex and teen drug use? DrugRehabTreatment.com offers way you can help your teenager before things get worse and why you shouldn't wait to get your child treatment.

Labels: abstinence, risky_behaviors, sex

Teens Teaching HIV/AIDS Prevention Tips

One result of the Provisio Leyden Council for Community Action summer program was a short film titled "I Want 2 Live". The film was written, shot, and produced by teens in PLCCA's All Stars mentoring program.

"The film starts out with information on how HIV/AIDS is spread, including through sexual contact, the sharing of needles and blood transfusions. To the sounds of an ambulance siren wailing in the background, teens in the film explain the side effects of the disease for which there is no cure."

The film goes on to tout abstinence as the only "fool-proof" way to avoid infection, but acknowledges that using condoms is also important for those who can't, or don't want to, "resist temptation." Read more at PioneerLocal.com.

Labels: AIDS, risky_behaviors, sex

Talk to Kids about Risky Behavior

Most young people feel like they're invincible. But most also know the truth - that they're not. Still, some engage in risky and sometimes life-threatening behavior because they have little sense of their own mortality. The untimely death of a 14-year-old boy in Ohio has prompted warnings about risky behavior from some experts.

"[Dr. Steve] Liptak said it is important for parents to know their children and be more watchful of those they have found to be risk-takers. A working relationship with the child - knowing what they are doing and where they are going, not interrogating them - is even more important for known risk-takers, he said."

Dr. Bob Barcus also suggests that parents be honest with their teens about what can realistically happen when people take extreme risks. Read more at DaytonDailyNews.com.

If your child in engaging in risky behaviors, such as teen drug use, visit Adolescent-Substance-Abuse.com for ways you can help.

Labels: communication, parental_involvement, risky_behaviors

Teen Suicide - a Horrific, Growing Trend

According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, suicide is the third-leading cause of death for people age 15- to 24-years old. Strong ties to family and friends can help protect most teens.

"'Early identification and access to help is the best way to reach out to children and adolescents at a very vulnerable time in their lives,' said Sally Fiehrer, director of the Butler County National Alliance on Mental Health."

Sudden withdrawal from friends, family and activities, neglect of personal appearance, and violent or rebellious behavior are just some of the warning signs. Read more at Journal-News.com.

Teenagers struggling with issues can find professional help and treatment at a residential treatment center like Island View. If you've been unable to find a treatment program for your teen becuase of a lack of proper diagnosis, then check out The Aspen Institute for Behavioral Assessment. The Institute offers all of the assessments necessary to gather and assemble a clear diagnostic picture and a treatment plan that will help get your teenager back on the right track.

Labels: prevention, risky_behaviors, suicide

Author Hopes Story will Help Teens

Amanda Daniels' father struggled with substance abuse and eventually committed suicide. When she found herself pregnant at 17, she couldn't believe what her life had become.

"Now 31, Daniels is a social worker and author of 'Transparent Tears', a new book she hopes will serve to educate both troubled teens and professionals who work with them."

She shares her experiences not only as a teen, but with teens. Living in Waltham, Massachusetts, she sees many of the same issues that she saw in her hometown of Cambridge. Read more at DailyNewsTribune.com.

If your teen is struggling with substance abuse and drug addiction, visit the Teen Help Directory for help with teen drug abuse.

Labels: risky_behaviors, substance_abuse, support

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