Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Can Lead Preteens to Nicotine Addiction

A new study has found that exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of nicotine dependence in non-smoking preteens. The study, by researchers from Concordia University and the University of Montreal, also found that preteens who repeatedly observe a parent, sibling, friend, or neighbor smoking cigarettes are more likely to become smokers themselves in adolescence.

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Teens With Depression, Anxiety May Also Take More Driving Risks

If a teen driver shows signs of depression or problems with anxiety, a study suggests they may also have a greater chance of driving recklessly or taking vehicular risks. The study, highlighted in recent news, is one of the first to look at driving patterns and depression or anxiety, and could help experts recognize teens with these problems who may be at higher risk for car accidents.

The study, conducted by Queensland University of Technology, looked at the driving habits of more than 760 teen drivers. Findings pointed to study conclusions that those with depression or anxiety-related problems represented more than eight percent of the dangerous driving habits the teens said they had engaged in. For the young female drivers, the link between depression, anxiety and risky driving was almost three percent higher than for males.

Previous research has explored the connection between teen depression and a likelihood for dangerous sex, cigarette use or drinking alcohol. This study extends the research focus to linkages between teen mental health problems and risk taking, shedding light on the reasons why some teens may not wear seatbelts, drive while on their cell phones or speed excessively.

Researchers hope the study will allow professionals to determine ahead of time if certain teens may be more prone to at-risk driving behaviors. If the teens could be identified, specific treatments with could be administered to promote improvements in their anxiety or depression symptoms.

Study findings have been published in Injury Prevention.

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Teens who Exercise are Less Likely to Smoke and Use Drugs

A new study has found that teenagers who exercise and play team sports are less likely to start smoking or using drugs. However, these teens often drink more alcohol than their peers.

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Alcohol May Affect Decision-Making in Adulthood

A new study using rats suggests that adolescents who drink alcohol may have trouble with decision-making in adulthood. Researchers from the University of Washington found that drinking alcohol during adolescence can change the perception of risk but doesn’t affect how rewards are valued.

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Adolescent Binge Drinking Linked to Gene Variation and Emotional Drinking

A new study by researchers at Radboud University in the Netherlands examines why some adolescents binge drink frequently and whether there is a possible association with genetics. Although many adolescents drink alcohol, drinking large amounts of alcohol frequently (binge drinking) may indicate a deeper problem.

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Can You Monitor a Teen’s Behavior Too Much?

While it can seem nearly as impossible as herding cats, keeping tabs on teens is a worthwhile parental responsibility. But it’s difficult at best to maintain a balance between being too lax and too intrusive. What it all boils down to is this: Can you monitor your teen’s behavior too much?

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Above the Influence Campaign Helps Reduce Teen Marijuana Use

New research shows that the federal anti-drug campaign “Above the Influence” seems to have reduced teenage marijuana use. In a study of more than 3,000 students from 20 communities in the United States, the researchers found that by the end of 8th grade, 12 percent of those who didn’t see the campaign started smoking marijuana compared to 8 percent of students who were familiar with the campaign.

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More Teens Abusing Marijuana, Prescription Drugs, Ecstasy

Marijuana use is up among American teenagers; in fact, one in 16 high school seniors told researchers that they smoke it every day. A new survey of 46,000 teens called Monitoring the Future found that they are experimenting more with the club drug ecstasy, and increasingly using cigarettes. However, their use of alcohol is at the lowest level in the 30 years of the annual survey.

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Decision-Making Affected by Binge Drinking

Teens that binge drink can experience a wealth of negative consequences. They may suffer academically, experience difficulty in relationships with family and friends, and they may receive punishments at home if they violate their parents’ rules about alcohol consumption. In addition to these more immediate results, new research suggests that teens may also experience problems later in life with decision-making.

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Teens’ Excessive Texting Linked to Substance Abuse, Sex

New research from the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine Master of Public Health program has found that excessive texting among teens is linked to risky health behaviors, including drinking, drug use, and sexual activity. Scott Frank, MD, MS, lead author of the study and director of the Master of Public Health program at Case Western, presented the study’s findings at a meeting of the American Public Health Association in Denver, Colorado.

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