A new study published in the April issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry found many alarming statistics about what age US children begin using substances such as; alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and harder narcotics. In the study, Joel Swendsen, of the University of Bordeaux in France, and colleagues analyzed data from a U.S. survey […]
The age at which children begin drinking is surprising. According to a pamphlet distributed by the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse, “by 8th grade, 38.9% of American children have tried alcohol and 17.9% of 8th graders have been drunk at least once.” To combat these percentages Elizabeth D’Amico, a psychologist who has been […]
Most adults know by now that smoking cigarettes is caustic to our health, partially because of the warning information printed on cigarette boxes and the intense media buzz provided by anti-smoking agencies and the United States government. Despite all that we know about the dangers of smoking, the prospect of smoking nicotine cigarettes is still […]
By Philippe Rey, Psy. D. Executive Director of Adolescent Counseling Services So now that we have a good idea about what is really going on with drugs and alcohol, let’s look at more ways we can help our teens. As I mentioned last week, as parents your task is to encourage choice. That means that […]
By Philippe Rey, Psy. D. Executive Director of Adolescent Counseling Services Previously we looked at information that helped us recognize when a problem in our middle school children is serious enough to require professional assistance, versus a bout of normal adolescent behavior or mood change. This week we will focus on substances and how best […]
when trying to find the influence behind a teen’s fixation with alcohol, there are the usual suspects- their closest friends, the boyfriend/girlfriend, or the environment at home. But recent studies are showing that the linkage between teens and alcohol may not be as direct as it seems. Studies show that if a teen is in […]
As September marks the beginning of a new school year and a new season, September also honors a new beginning for those who choose recovery as the next step in their lives. This month is National Recovery Month and ACS not only wants to celebrate those who are in recovery, but those treatment providers and […]
Binge drinking, drinking four (for females) and five (for males) alcholic beverages withing a two hour span, has become a growing problem in today’s society. Statistics show that more and more teenagers are consuming extreme amounts of alcohol – comparable to that of an adult alcoholic. Not only is the amount of consumption alarming, but […]
Sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Kick Butts Day (March 23, 2011) is a national day of action designed to empower youth to speak up and take action against Big Tobacco, encourage people to quit smoking, and raise awareness about the available quitting resources in the county. In Santa Clara County, the Public Health […]
A Parent’s Guide to Prevention (Conclusion): Getting Involved and Staying Involved Parent-School Partnerships Parents do not need to feel they are alone in helping their children stay drug- free. For the first time ever, there are preventative intervention programs that have been proven to be effective and are available to schools, families and communities. Children […]
