The Science of Addiction

Addiction can be a hard issue to understand. Some people do not know how the addiction can take over an individuals life in everything that they do. This article will help you understand the scientific perspective of addiction from its begining stages of addiction to its treatment.

To read the complete article click here:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/

Does Your Teenage Daughter Shop at Claire's?

Retail store Icing by Claire’s which has 3,000 stores in the US and Europe, now sells flasks with charming, girlish designs. These stores where its sales target girls 17 and under glamorize underage drinking with cute flasks. Labesls specify that flasks are designed to carry alcoholic drinks and they should not be used for juice.

To read the complete article click here: http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2009/advocates-call-on-tween.html

More Evidence That a Lower Drinking Age Won't Solve Binge Drinking

Binge drinking is a phenomenon that knows no national borders. Although proponents of lowering the drinking age often cite Europe's relaxed laws around youth and alcohol as an example of how to teach kids to drink "responsibly," new evidence shows that when it comes to teens, there is no responsible drinking.

French hospitals report a dramatic increase in alcohol-related admissions to their emergency departments. One addiction specialist attributes the rise in binge drinking to the breakdown of family supervision and the ever-lower ages of initiation into drinking, with kids as young as 13 gathering to binge drink.

Find the complete article at:

http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2008/french-youths-pick-up-bad.html

Do You Really Need Another Reason to Drive Sober?

If so...check out the DUI Foundation's new website (http://www.duifoundation.org/). You'll find a wealth of information covering health issues, legal information, and the most current news on impaired driving.

We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Remember that a single drunk driving accident can have permanent and deadly consequences.

Is Your Teen Tricking You? Here are 5 Tricks and Tips Just for Parents!

Teens use many tried and true methods of getting around rules and hiding things they know parents disapprove of. Check out this article for 5 common tricks and advice for parents on how to anticipate them before the fact:

http://www.timetotalk.org/Downloads/ttt_halloween_tool_final.pdf?utm_source=ttt_eBlast&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Halloween_Alert_Oct2008&tr=y&auid=4166534

Remember, kids who are not monitored are four times more likely to use drugs than kids who are.

Celebrate National Teen Driver Safety Week with a Game!

Drug Free Communities Program Reduces Teen Substance Use

(Taken from Join Together)

A new report from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) says that alcohol, tobacco and other drug use rates were lower than national averages in cities and towns with coalitions funded by the Drug Free Communities (DFC) program.

Annual youth marijuana, alcohol and tobacco use in DFC communities was 9.9 percent, 23.3 percent, and 10 percent lower, respectively, than the national average for use of these substances. Trends in current use among DFC communities were compared with national data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.

The report also found that youth drug use declined more rapidly in communities with DFC coalitions than the national average.

The 769 DFC coalitions are made of community leaders, parents, youth, teachers, religious and fraternal organizations, health care and business professionals, law enforcement and the media. The DFC program provides grants of up to $625,000 over five years to community organizations that facilitate citizen participation in local drug-prevention efforts.