Wednesday, September 8, 2010: Recent Teen Mental Health and Substance Abuse News and Resources
Adolescent Counseling Services monitors breaking news stories involving the topics of teen mental health and substance abuse daily so that 99 Tips Online can be your convenient go-to place for news and resources relevant to your teen’s emotional and physical health:
Teen Substance Abuse
New Tools from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America
“According to the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nine million people in America under the age of 26 need help for substance abuse and addiction. In response to the broad needs of families, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America has developed science-based tools and interactive resources that guide parents from preventing drug and alcohol abuse in their families to intervening when they think their child is having a problem.”
Time to Talk – Tips and tools to begin talking with your kids about the risks of drugs and alcohol.
Time to Act – Tips and tools for taking action when you suspect your child is using drugs or alochol.
Drugs, Driving and Teens a Deadly Combination
Did you know that car accidents are the leading cause of fatality for teens ages 16-19? Use this article, courtesy of TeenDrugAbuse.org, as a way of having this important conversation with your teen.
Hispanic Teens More Likely to Drink, Smoke and Use Marijuana
A new study has found that Hispanic adolescents are more likely to smoke, drink, or use marijuana than those of other races and ethnicities, and Asian students are at the lowest risk of substance abuse. Read more on this study by clicking here.
Teen Mental Health
Teen Bullying: What Parents Need to Know
“Teen bullying is often in the news. It isn’t inevitable, however. Consider features of teen bullying – and practical strategies for preventing and responding to teen bullying.” Read this great article, courtesy of the Mayo Clinic, by clicking here.
Teens Self-Mutilate – Embed Objects in Skin
“Metal. Plastic. Crayon. These are just some of the materials that teenagers have used to injure themselves by puncturing their skin with objects, or putting objects into the wound after cutting. This is called self-embedding behavior, and some teens do it as a way of coping with tough times.” This is a difficult topic to explore but important for all parents to be aware of. Click here to read the rest of this article, courtesy of CNN.