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Report: More Youth Misusing Prescription Drugs
9/10/2004 The 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health finds that a greater number of youth are misusing prescription drugs, the Associated Press reported Sept. 9. According to the report released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), prescription-drug misuse among ages 18 to 25 increased by 15 percent. The study also found that more people used prescription pain relievers for non-medical reasons. The report did find, however, that fewer adolescents are using marijuana, LSD and ecstasy. But alcohol misuse remained steady. According to the report, the number of 12- to 17-year-olds who said they tried marijuana dropped 5 percent. In addition, the number of current marijuana smokers among 12- and 13-year-olds declined 30 percent. LSD use among 12- to 17-year-olds dropped by 54 percent, while ecstasy use declined 41 percent. In terms of alcohol misuse, binge and heavy drinking remained unchanged from 2002 to 2003. The report showed that about 54 million children ages 12 and older reported binge drinking at least once in the 30 days before being surveyed.

Binge Drinking a Predictor of Teen Suicide(from JTO direct)
5/18/2004 A survey of high-school students in Buffalo, N.Y., finds that binge drinking can help predict suicidal behavior among teens, especially when depression or a stressful event is present. Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham conducted a survey of 1,218 sophomores and juniors at several high schools in Buffalo and found that binge drinking was a key predictor of actual suicide attempts, compared to suicidal thoughts, even after factoring in high levels of depression and stress. Teens who drank to "cope" or "relax" had a high percentage of friends who drank or had low levels of family support, the study also found. Michael Windle, Ph.D., lead author of the study, said binge drinking may be a good predictor "because binge drinking episodes frequently precede serious suicide attempts." The study's findings are published in the May 2004 issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

Networks Reject Latest 'Truth' Tobacco Ad (from JTO Direct)
5/21/2004 ABC, CBS and Fox have refused to run the latest "Connect Truth" ad from the American Legacy Foundation (ALF) because it targets the television and movie industries, Brand Week reported May 14. The ad, titled "Laffin's Kids," features a young man telling a crowd in front of a Loews movie theater that a 1989 internal tobacco company marketing report stated, "We believe that most of the strong, positive images for cigarettes and smoking are created by cinema and television." The ad then touches on the story of Pam Laffin, who died at age 31 of emphysema. Laffin began smoking at age 10 after seeing the movie "Grease" and thinking that smoking was cool. The film is not mentioned by name in the ad. "Is this the strong positive image that the tobacco industry was talking about?" one of Laffin's daughters asks in the ad. A Fox representative said the network declined the ad because it was unfair and disparaging to the television and movie industries. CBS said the ad was controversial and de-facto advocacy, and needed to be balanced with a response from the entertainment industry. ABC declined to comment about why it wouldn't run the ad. "What you have here is a conflict of interest with the entertainment industry," said Christopher Cullen, executive vice president of marketing and communication at ALF. "In this era of consolidation and coalitions of entertainment companies, who will ensure that truthful messages about the medium will be put on the air? If they can shut down anything that makes them look bad, that's very unfair." Dr. Cheryl Healton, president and CEO of ALF, said attorneys for the foundation may seek intervention from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Sexual Activity and Dating Behavior Can Increase Risk for Teen Substance Abuse
A survey released this month by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University finds that dating practices and the level of sexual activity of friends can indicate substance abuse risk for teens. Teens who report that half or more of their friends are sexually active, teens that spend 25 or more hours a week with a boyfriend/girlfriend, and girls with boyfriends two or more years older all have a significant increased risk for the use and abuse of alcohol, marijuana and tobacco. These findings are based on telephone interviews with one thousand teens and five hundred of their parents.

The results of the annual back-to-school National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse IX: Teen Dating Practices and Sexual Activity may come as little surprise to anti-drug coalitions that work with youth. However, the survey does offer local coalitions the opportunity to compare and contrast their community data with the national data. “Coalitions can use the survey findings as an opportunity to reinforce what their coalition is already doing to prevent and reduce substance abuse,” said Jane Callahan, Director of CADCA’s National Coalition Institute.

To combat youth substance abuse, CASA promotes their annual, nationwide “Family Day” initiative. Family Day is held on the fourth Monday in September and encourages parental engagement because of the protective role family bonding can play in reducing the risk of substance use and abuse in youth. Family Day focuses on the symbolic act of a family meal. This reflects CASA’s findings that children who have more family dinners are less likely to drink, smoke or use illicit drugs and its risk and protective factor approach to reducing youth substance abuse. Most anti-drug coalitions have adopted the risk and protective factor framework when working with young people. “Positive and strong connections with family make a difference in the lives of youth,” said Callahan.