If your doctor said, "Take two jokes and call me in the morning," would you laugh? Let's hope so. Laughter is good for you and your child's mental and physical well-being.

Some mental health professionals say humor is one of the best ways to relieve stress, and research proves that laughter plays a key role in human life. A good laugh loosens muscles, lowers blood pressure, and may lower levels of hormones that create stress and weaken immunity. When you laugh, your body moves blood to your heart and lungs, boosting your energy level and making you feel better instantly. It also aids communication and creates a sense of closeness between you and the people you're laughing with.

Until recently, researchers knew that laughing was good for us, but they didn't really understand how. New evidence points to changes in the brain-not the imaginary funny bone-as the source for laughter. Researchers found that when people laugh, a part of the brain's reward system is triggered. In this reward system, a person feels pleasure and wants to have the same pleasant feelings over and over again. The areas in the brain triggered by humor are the same ones that are triggered by drugs like amphetamines and cocaine. 1

What does this mean for you and your child? According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, one reason that young people choose to use drugs is simply to feel good.2 They seek new or thrilling things to have a good time. The good news is that the kids who use drugs to feel good are the ones who are most likely to respond to prevention messages that teach them about the harmful effects of drugs on their bodies. Teens also are swayed mostly by the powerful protective factor of having strong and loving parents who take notice and take part in all aspects of their lives. These kids have the best chances of being successfully taught to seek other ways of having fun.

Laughing and fun go hand-in-hand and laughing together as a family will bring you closer together, improve your mental and physical health, and may help prevent your child from using drugs. Look for laughs to stay healthy!

Sources:

1. 1 Dean Mobbs, Michael D. Greicius, Eiman Abdel-Azim, Vinod Menon, and Allan L. Reiss. 2003. Humor Modulates the Mesolimbic Reward Centers. Neuron 40: 1041-1048.
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse.Why Do Sally and Johnny Use Drugs? , last referenced 3/9/04.

Additional Resource:
Ohio State University: Laughter Is Really Good Medicine American Heart Association: Don't Get Mad, Get Funny

For many of us, New Year's resolutions are easily made and easily broken. Whether it's to lose weight, save money, or adopt a healthier lifestyle, New Year's resolutions can be hard to keep. But, working toward these and other goals can improve your life. Setting realistic goals year round-and not just at New Year's-can lead to a healthier lifestyle, improved self-esteem, and increased confidence.

Children also can benefit from learning how to set and reach goals. It helps them learn how to manage their time and make good decisions-skills that can have a lasting and positive impact on their future.

The following tips can help you and your children successfully set and achieve your goals:

1. Be specific. When thinking about your goal, be as exact as possible. People who set specific goals are more likely to succeed. For example, instead of saying that you want to save money, set a specific goal to save $20 (or whatever your goal amount is) per week.
2. Put it in writing. Write down exactly what you want to achieve and post it in a place where you will see it every day. This will help remind you what you're working toward. When you write, use positive terms. For example, instead of writing, "I will stop eating junk food" re-word your goal in more positive terms: "I will make healthy food choices."
3. Set realistic goals. When you think about setting goals, make sure that they are within your reach. Be mindful of your finances, schedule, and other personal affairs. Many people forget to think about these important factors and, as a result, they set unrealistic goals for themselves.
4. Develop an action plan. Create a timeline with steps toward your goal. Set deadlines for each step and cross them off as you go. Sometimes just crossing things off and watching your list get smaller can give you a sense of accomplishment and help you to keep going.
5. Believe in yourself. Stay positive about your progress. Share your goal with a friend and ask him to help keep your spirits up.
6. Be flexible. Keep in mind that setbacks can happen. Don't get discouraged and give up. Your hard work will pay off!
7. Reward yourself. Acknowledge your achievements, even the small ones. Reaching a goal takes hard work and you should be proud of your efforts.

The start of a New Year doesn't have to be the only time you decide to accomplish a goal. Having clear goals and something to aim for can bring your family together and help you lead healthier lives year round. Make this New Year count and follow through on your resolutions!

Additional Resources for Goal Setting:
University of Houston: When it Comes to New Year's Resolutions, Play it "Smart"
¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina!: Goals
Federal Trade Commission: Setting Goals for Weight Loss
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Motivation (tips for setting goals, including downloadable worksheets) Additional Resources for Goal Setting:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Motivation (tips for setting goals, including downloadable worksheets)

It's no secret that raising a child can be stressful. Yet, how parents handle it is crucial. Have you ever yelled at your child? Have you told him he's dumb or useless? Maybe you've threatened to hit him. How about vowing to send him packing-perhaps to a home for wayward youth or to no place in particular?

If you've vented your anger in such ways, you're not alone. A study of almost 1,000 parents showed that nearly all of them had used what the authors called "psychological aggression" to discipline children by the time they were 5 years old. This term includes a wide range of actions such as yelling and screaming, cursing and swearing, name calling, and threats of spanking.1

Nine in 10 parents said they had used such methods on children aged 2 or younger.2 Parents who spank their children tend to keep it up as the kids get older. Other research showed that more than half of youths in their early teens who were spanked as young children were still being spanked an average of eight times a year.3

Parents were psychologically aggressive toward their kids 22 times a year on average. As you might expect, yelling was the most common form of such discipline. Three in four parents said they had "shouted, yelled, or screamed" at their children in the past year. However, many parents used more severe methods:

• In the past year, one in two parents had threatened a spanking.
• One in three had used tactics like calling their kids "lazy" or " dumb," swearing at them, or threatening to send them away.
• One in four had "sworn or cursed" at their children.4

Older children and teens were most likely to receive the more severe forms of discipline such as cursing, name calling, and threats of being kicked out of the house.5

Okay, so parents can go too far with discipline. But isn't it okay to yell once in a while? Is it really so bad to sternly promise a spanking if a child won't follow the rules? After all, don't these methods send a clear and direct message about poor conduct?

The study's lead author, Dr. Murray A. Straus of the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH believes that it depends on how, and how often, hard-line discipline is used. The impact of screaming, cursing, or threats most likely depends on how often parents resort to these methods. Another part of the picture is whether parents condemn the child's actions rather than putting down the child herself. Effects tend to vary based on how sensitive a child is.6

Children who have been treated too harshly may become insecure, destructive, angry, or withdrawn. Later in life, they may have troubled relationships or put themselves at risk of harm.7

Still, it's not a matter of "How much is too much?" The key question is "Why do it at all?" According to Dr. Straus, harsh discipline simply isn't needed. He urges parents to rely on other methods such as talking with the child. He notes that steady discipline is what gets children's attention.8

So, stick with the true meaning of discipline-to teach. Be positive and create a warm and caring climate. Provide a good example by acting calmly, using manners, and showing respect and understanding. Set fair rules and consequences and give your child the freedom that's right for his age. Instead of yelling, praise and reward good conduct and things done well. Be flexible and, especially with older children, listen, negotiate, and involve them in decisionmaking.9

Sources:

1. Straus, Murray A., and Carolyn J. Field. November 2003. Psychological Aggression by American Parents: National Data on Prevalence, Chronicity, and Severity. Journal of Marriage and Family 65: 795-808
2. Ibid.
3. American Academy of Pediatrics. Guidance for Effective Discipline, last referenced 2/17/04
4. Straus, Murray A., and Carolyn J. Field. November 2003. Psychological Aggression by American Parents: National Data on Prevalence, Chronicity, and Severity. Journal of Marriage and Family 65: 795-808
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. National Exchange Club Foundation. Emotional Abuse, last referenced 2/17/04.
8. Ibid.
9. American Humane Association. No Hitting: Abandoning Corporal Punishment for Better Forms of Discipline, last referenced 2/17/04.

It's that time of year again-the carefree freedom of summer is traded for the routine of the school year. Most children, even those who look forward to school, moan and groan about returning to the classroom.

The return to school can be stressful for many students, no matter their age. They worry about making friends, getting a good teacher, and finding their way around a new building. But starting the new school year may be harder for some students than others. Last year, if your child had poor grades, struggled with homework, or was unhappy in school, he may not be thrilled about the coming school year. If your child is starting a new school, she might be feeling especially nervous.

When back-to-school stress gets to be too much for students to handle, it can lead to depression. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Mental Health Services, as many as one in every 33 children may have depression.1 It often goes unrecognized and can result in problems at school like failing grades and trouble making friends.

Signs of depression include:

• Persistent sadness
• Withdrawal from family, friends, and activities that were once enjoyed
• Increased irritability or agitation
• Changes in eating and sleeping habits (e.g., significant weight loss, not sleeping, excessive sleep)
• Frequent physical complaints, such as headaches and stomachaches
• Lack of enthusiasm or motivation
• Decreased energy level and chronic fatigue
• Play that involves excessive aggression toward self or others, or that involves persistently sad themes
• Indecision, lack of concentration, or forgetfulness
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

If you suspect that your child may be suffering from depression:

• Know the warning signs for depression, and note how often, how severe, and how long the troubling behavior lasts.
• Get accurate information from libraries, hotlines, the Web, and other sources.
• Take your child to see a mental health professional or doctor for evaluation and diagnosis if he or she is exhibiting several of the warning signs. The evaluation may include a variety of tests and consultation with other specialists.
• Ask questions about treatments and services. A treatment plan may include counseling, ongoing evaluation and, in some cases, medication. The treatment plan is best developed with your family, and whenever possible, the child.
• Talk to other families in your community or find a family network organization.

The start of a new school year can sometimes trigger depression, but the good news is that there are effective treatments to help set students on the right path. A child's mental health is critical to his success and happiness at school. Check in with him often to make sure his back-to-school moans and groans are typical youth complaints and not a sign of something more serious.

Source:
SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Children's Mental Health Week Children's Mental Health Week, last referenced on August 31, 2004.

"You're so unfair!" "Everyone else's mom said it's okay." "I can't believe you're doing this to me." Sound familiar? If you're the mom of a teen, it probably does. But researchers at Penn State have some good news for you-you're more important than ever in the life of your teen.

When it comes to talking about serious subjects like alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs, an overwhelming 70 percent of teens are more at ease when talking with their moms.1 In contrast, 12 percent of the teens in the survey favored talking with their fathers, 7.4 percent preferred talking with their grandparents, another 7.4 favored talking with siblings, and 3 percent preferred talking with other extended family members. Through the responses of 67 African American and White teenagers ages 11 to 17 who took part in the study, researchers also learned that neither gender nor race played a role in these teens' tendency to confide in their mothers.

In addition, the study noted that young people are more impressed by drug talks that are part of normal family routines than by one long, preplanned drug talk. You can make use of this important finding by talking about alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs during your normal family routine. For example, cooking together can lead to discussing the importance of good health.

Use the media-TV, music, and ads-to start talks with your teen. When you notice that your teen is watching TV shows that you find inappropriate, don't flip the channel right away. Instead, talk to your child. If someone on the TV show used or mentioned a drug, inquire about it. You might ask, "Do you know what ecstasy is?" or "Do you know how ecstasy affects people who use it?" Even if your teen already knows the facts, talking with you about drugs can make him less likely to use drugs.

Another chance to talk about drugs comes when you're in a car with your teen. Let her choose the radio station-even if you hate the music. Use it to open a conversation: "What do you like so much about this music?" or "What do you think those lyrics mean?" or "What's the singer like in real life?" Finding out what your teen really likes about music will help open the door to discussions about many hot topics, including alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs.

Ads also present a way to talk to your teen about making healthy choices. When you pass a billboard advertising cigarettes or see the latest beer commercial during sports programs, talk about it with your teen. What is the ad selling? Does your teen believe it? What are the consequences of doing what the ad tells you? Talk about what the ad may not be telling its audience.

Teens are flooded with tough issues, but the research at Penn State shows that they turn to mom more than anyone else. So, hang in there, mom, and remember how important you are to your teen-even if he doesn't always show it.

Source:
1 Penn State University. "Teens Prefer Talking to Mom About Drug Use Topics," last referenced April 29, 2004.

Time flies! It's an old saying, but in today's fast-paced world, it's never been so true. Before we know it, our kids are all grown up-out on their own or off to college. Most parents realize the rewards of close family ties. Yet the demands of jobs and day-to-day household activities can be stressful and tiring. So, it's easy for quality time with our kids to get squeezed out.

You won't want to find yourself looking back, amazed at how quickly it went, and realizing you missed something special. More important, spending time with your child gives you a chance to shape his values. As your child gets older, you can provide a good frame of reference as he is exposed to the growing influence of peers and popular culture. The more time you spend with your child, the more you will be able to help him tune in to his abilities, skill-building activities, and healthy friendships.

Okay, but does your child want to spend time with you? As kids get older, they begin to declare their independence. But studies show that most youth like spending time with their parents.1 So, if you set fair rules and give your child the freedom that's right for her age, you most likely will be able to enjoy each other's company.

Time set aside works well-family dinner hour, homework time, shopping, trips, or a game in the evening. Still, finding real "quality" time can be tough. So, take advantage of that one-on-one time that just happens as you are cooking, caring for a pet, riding in the car, or raking leaves.

What is quality time? Quality time means communicating in an upbeat and useful way-watching TV in silence doesn't count. Talking with children is one of the best things you can do to help them grow up confident and secure.

How to strike up a chat? Ask questions that take more than a yes or no answer. Ask younger children to explain something or talk about a story you read together, objects you found in nature together, or their take on school and friends. With older children and teens, talk about issues and events that occur outside the home or neighborhood. Ask teens for their opinions. Discuss the meaning of movies and ads. Mention problems you had during the day and how you dealt with them. Problem-solving skills can keep kids from turning to alcohol and illegal drugs to deal with troubles or from going along with risky activities.

Be positive. Praise your child for things you might take for granted, such as getting up on time, helping set the table, or doing homework without being told. Praise hard work as well as success. Avoid value judgments. Show you understand even if you don't agree. Let your child know you respect his feelings and help him work through hard situations. He'll probably welcome your attention even if he doesn't admit it. Most youth say they turn first to a parent for help in solving problems.2

Spending time with your child takes more than talk, though. Find a chance each week to do something special with your child. If she is active in sports or creative arts, go to as many events as you can. Exposing kids to activities, people, places, and ideas can stir their imaginations and provide a menu of tempting choices. Take trips, look at art, gaze at stars, and play games. Activities that call for planning, forming, or solving involve making choices and thinking about results. These pursuits will fuel a kid's curiosity and build creative thinking habits. Find out what she likes. For every interest, there is something to try.

Sure, life can be hectic. But don't forget, when it comes to spending time with your kids, the rewards can be great-for you and them. If you haven't done enough, don't waste time feeling guilty. Just get started-it's never too late to be the best possible parent.

Sources:

1. Child Trends. Family Strengths: Often Overlooked, But Real, last referenced 6/23/03.
2. Ibid.

Additional Resources:
15+ Make Time To Listen, Take Time To Talk: Listening Dads are Champs
Parents. The Anti-Drug
Family First: Parenting Improvement Center
Parents Talk: Family Fun

As a parent, it's important for you to be involved in your child's education, and one way to do that is to help your child with homework. This may seem easier said than done...especially when your child would rather watch TV than do homework or if your child's math homework is too difficult for you to understand. However, helping your child with homework can teach him the most critical lesson of all-that learning is valuable and interesting and can be fun.

What To Do:

What's the best way to help your child with her homework? You can encourage good study habits and model a positive attitude toward learning and problem solving for your child, even if you're not a whiz at history or science.

Set a schedule. Help your child choose a regular time for doing homework every night. When choosing a time, think about your child's after-school activities, your family's dinnertime, the time of day that your child is most alert and ready to work, etc.1 Also, make sure your child has a quiet spot to work with plenty of space and light.

Keep track of homework. Along with other school supplies, you may want to purchase a dry-erase calendar or a pegboard to help your child keep track of her assignments, especially long-term ones like science projects or book reports. You can teach your child how to divide up her workload and manage her time wisely.

Lend a hand. Help your child study for a test by quizzing him on the subject. If he is having trouble with a homework problem, go over the material with him and help him brainstorm ways to solve it. For larger projects, help him break the assignment down into manageable pieces or "chunks." If he's still having trouble, point him toward the library, the Internet, or other study resources. Or encourage him to seek extra help from his teacher.

Make sure, however, that you're not doing the homework for your child. By encouraging him to seek answers for himself, you help him develop problem-solving skills and get a good grasp of the material.

Know your child's learning style. Not all children learn the same way. For example, some learn more through reading and using language, while others learn more from looking at pictures. For example, learning certain math skills may be easier for your child if you draw a picture of a pizza. Some children have a mix of learning styles. If you know your child's learning style, it can help you explain homework problems to her in a way she can understand. This is also good information to share with her teachers.2

Talk to teachers. Talk to your child's teachers at the beginning of each school year to find out what kind of homework you and your child can expect. If your child seems to have too much or too little homework, or if she is having trouble understanding her assignments, discuss this with her teachers.

Inspire a love of learning. Read aloud to your child; take her to libraries, museums, and historical sites; and encourage her to ask questions. Model a passion for learning…your child will pick up on it.

Sources:

1. U.S. Department of Education: How To Help-Show That You Think Education and Homework Are Important, last referenced 10/23/2002.
2. Fortnet: Children's Learning Styles, last referenced 10/24/2002.

Additional Resources:
Homework Tips from the U.S. Department of Education
Healthcare Consortium's Parents Helping Kids With Homework
KidSource: Helping Your Child With Homework

You may have spotted your teen staying up later than he used to. Activities that could be filling his late hours might include computer games, TV shows, phone calls, or music. Have you ever thought about caffeine intake as one of the reasons your teen is a night owl?

Monitor Your Child's Activities:

According to a recent study, eating foods, drinking beverages, or taking medications that have caffeine may lead to daytime sleepiness and breaks in sleep at night. Almost 200 high school students took part in a 14-day study. They reported on the time they went to bed and woke up, any caffeine intake, and any naps they took. At the end of the study, the researchers found that teens with higher caffeine intake slept fewer hours at night and took more naps during the day than those who had less caffeine. 1

Broken sleep patterns can have many effects on a child. These include the following: 2

• Academic trouble
• Anxiety
• Decrease in cognitive development
• Depression (more common among females)
• Depression (more common among females)
• Moodiness
• Reduced motivation

Caffeine can be found in many sodas, coffee, tea, chocolate. It is also one of the most commonly used drugs in some pain medications and over-the-counter drugs. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and raises the heart rate, which can lead to nervous system disorders and heart problems.

Like many drugs, caffeine can be addictive. Once the body becomes used to the caffeine intake, it needs more to feel the same effect. This often causes a continued increase in caffeine intake.

What To Do:

Now that you know some of the problems linked to loss of sleep and caffeine intake, you might be wondering how you can help your teen.

• Avoid caffeinated drinks and products in the evening. Offer juice, milk, and water instead of soft drinks or tea and coffee.
• Adjust plans to allow plenty of time for homework, studying, and writing reports and don't allow all-nighters. This will cut down on the desire to take coffee or drugs with caffeine.
• Talk with your teen and agree on a bedtime. Help your teen plan how to get enough sleep. Some activities may need to be cut out or cut down to keep with the bedtime.
• Urge your teen to stick to the plan as much as possible over the weekend.

These ideas can help reduce sleep deprivation. How do you help your teen kick the caffeine habit? Stopping caffeine intake cold turkey can cause withdrawal symptoms, including headaches, short-term depression or moodiness, and muscle aches. To avoid withdrawal, suggest slowly cutting back on caffeine. 3 Cutting back may be hard at first, but after a few days your teen most likely will feel better rested and no longer suffer the effects of losing sleep.

Sources:

1. Pollak, Charles, and David Bright. January 2003 Caffeine Consumption and Weekly Sleep Patterns in U.S. Seventh-, Eighth, and Ninth-Grader. Pediatrics. Vol. 111, No. 1, 42-46.
2. Sleep Foundation. Adolescent Sleep Needs and Patterns last referenced, 3/3/04.
3. University of California at Berkeley.Exploring the Link Between Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms and the Neurochemical Changes Caused by Regular Caffeine Consumption, last referenced 3/3/04.
4. Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.Information About Caffeine Dependence, last referenced 3/3/04.

Additional Resources:
American Psychological Association
University of Southern California

The hectic nature of children's lives today is seen in the number of items on the majority of their to-do lists and also in the kinds of items on those lists, according to a recent Harris Interactive poll.1 Most students' goals for the new school year include making friends, getting better grades, studying more, participating in a club or group activity, and getting a job. The majority of 13- to 18-year-olds also reported that they want to get more sleep at night and "make time for the things I want to do." Can you see the storm clouds of stress on the horizon for these kids? Children and teens today are under more stress than ever. By burning the candle at both ends, these kids are burning out. High stress takes its toll-kids suffering from stress are twice as likely as those with low stress to smoke, drink, get drunk, and use illegal drugs, according to a Columbia University survey.2 High stress was experienced more among girls than boys, with nearly one in three girls saying they were highly stressed compared with fewer than one in four boys.3

Teaching children and teens to manage their stress helps prepare them to face challenges today and in the future. Here are a few tips to help you help your child manage stress:

• Prioritize. Talk to your child and identify what's most important-school, grades, sports, friends, a job, etc. Then, use your list of priorities to weed out what can be ignored during times of stress. For example, if playing on the high school football team is more important to your 16-year-old than his part-time job, he might want to talk to his boss about not working during football season.
• Set limits. Before your teen takes a job, the number of work hours needs to be negotiated, based on homework, other activities, and financial need.
• Limit activities. Every parent wants to raise a well-rounded child, but placing your 9-year-old in soccer, piano, dance, and art classes might be more than she can handle. Choose one or two activities that your child enjoys, and explore other interests at a different time.
• Set bedtimes, even for teens. Children and teens don't get enough sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 60 percent of children under the age of 18 complained of being tired during the day in the past year, and 15 percent of children reported falling asleep at school during the past year.4 Set bedtimes, even for teens, to help your children get enough rest, and keep them away from caffeine in the hours before bedtime.
• Exercise. Physical activity eases tension and helps children and teens relax. If your child doesn't play a sport, playing outside after school or taking a long walk with you after dinner can help him manage stress.
• Eat regularly. Maintaining a regular, healthy meal plan will help your child cope with stress. Meal times are even better when your whole family sits down to eat together.
• Talk. Communicate with your child often and ask her how things are going. If she seems stressed or talks about feeling like she has too much to do, ask how you can help. Brainstorm ways that you can solve problems. For example, if your child feels she has a big problem, talk about how you might be able to break it up into smaller pieces and solve them one at a time.

Stress management can be taught, and it's one lesson that today's busy youth should learn.

Sources:

1. Harris Interactive. Back To School: A Time of Emotion and Resolve, last referenced 9/23/03.
2. Associated Press. Teen Boredom, Stress Breeds Drug Use, last referenced 9/23/03.
3. Ibid.
4. National Sleep Foundation. Dozing Off in Class, last referenced 9/23/03.

"Hey, can I borrow the car keys?"

If you're the parent or caregiver of a teen who has reached driving age, you may hear this request more often than you would like. But a recent study might make you stop and think before you hand the keys to your teen driver.

According to data from a Monitoring the Future (MTF) study, about one in six high school seniors in the United States has driven under the influence of marijuana.1 Further, 41 percent of teens polled by Students Against Destructive Decisions/Liberty Mutual said they were not worried about driving after using illegal drugs.2 The fact is, marijuana does harm a user's ability to drive safely-as do other illegal drugs, alcohol, and some prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Teen drivers already have the highest crash risk of any age group, and marijuana use can cause more danger for teen drivers, who do not have much experience on the road.3

What To Know:

Marijuana affects a person's power to focus, coordination, and ability to react. The drug can make it harder for a driver to judge distances and react to signals and sounds on the road.4 These effects can last up to 24 hours after using marijuana.

Marijuana also may play a role in auto accidents. In 2001, about 38,000 high school seniors stated that they had an accident while driving under the influence of marijuana.5

The high rate of marijuana use reported by the MTF study, as well as many teens' lack of concern about marijuana use and driving, means that parents and caring adults must step in. Parents should talk with their teens about the risks and responsibilities that come with having a license before a teen begins driving. This should include a talk about the risks of substance use.

What To Say:

Warn your child about the dangers of using marijuana and the dangers of driving under the influence of the drug. Also, tell him not to get into a car with someone who has been using illegal drugs or who has had even one alcoholic drink. Make sure your child knows to call you (or another trusted adult) if he can't get a safe ride home from a party or other event. Tell him to call even if he has been using substances and agree to pick him up without yelling at him for being in that situation. Later, stress to him that, while you do not support this behavior, his safety is your first concern.

What To Do:

Here are some other tips on helping your teen driver stay on the road to a drug-free lifestyle:

• Set clear rules of behavior, including rules and limits for driving. For example, set a curfew for when your teen must have the car back home (e.g., before dark), or limit the number of teen riders she can have in the car at one time. And, of course, make a rule about calling you or another trusted adult if your teen can't get a safe ride home.
• Follow through with consequences. Let your teen know that he will not be allowed to drive if he breaks the rules, and he may lose his license if he is caught driving under the influence.
• Help your teen choose friends wisely. Encourage her to find friends who are drug free and warn her about peers who may try to pressure her to use marijuana or drive under the influence.
• Closely monitor your child's time and whereabouts. Car accidents are less likely to occur among teens whose parents watch them closely.6

Modeling healthy, drug-free behavior is one of the best ways to ensure that your teen stays under your influence, not marijuana's. For many teens, fear of parents' disapproval is a major reason for choosing not to use drugs.7 Your child may be growing up, but you still can affect him in positive ways. So use your valuable influence to steer your teen driver in the right direction.

Sources:

1. Office of National Drug Control Policy. Recent Analysis Shows That One in Six High School Seniors Admitted Driving While High, September 16, 2003, last referenced June 7, 2004.
2. Ibid.
3. Parents. The Anti-drug. Tips for Parents of New Drivers, last referenced June 7, 2004.
4. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Marijuana: Facts for Teens, NIH Publication No. 03-4037. 1995; 1998; 2001; Revised, 2003, (7 June 2004).
5. National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. Tips Every Parents Should Know To Keep Their Teen Driver Marijuana Free, last referenced June 7, 2004.
6. Ibid.
7. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Partners for Substance Abuse Prevention. Statistics of Interest, last referenced June 7, 2004.

Additional Resources:
CDC: Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet
Freevibe: Steer Clear of Pot

Do you have a future major league baseball player or soccer star in your family? If so, that's good news because young people who play sports can enjoy a range of health benefits. Active kids often have better physical fitness and more self-esteem1 and are less likely to engage in certain harmful acts. For example, high school athletes are less likely to smoke cigarettes than non-athletes.2

However, research also shows that high school athletes are more likely to use chewing tobacco or snuff than non-athletes.3 Many of these young athletes may wrongly believe that chewing tobacco and snuff-which are forms of "smokeless tobacco"-are safer than cigarettes. They may see their favorite baseball player spitting tobacco juice on TV and want to be like him. Or certain products marketed toward kids may influence their decision (such as shredded bubble gum sold in pouches made to look like chewing tobacco).

What To Know:

Snuff, chewing tobacco, and smokeless tobacco in a dried paste form all can pose major health risks to young people.4 The 28 cancer-causing substances in smokeless tobacco, such as arsenic and formaldehyde, can lead to deadly oral cancer, as well as cancer of the stomach, pancreas, and other organs.5 Smokeless tobacco also can cause bad breath, stained teeth, tooth decay, and sores inside the mouth. Because smokeless tobacco is normally held in the mouth for several minutes, more nicotine can be absorbed into the body than with cigarettes, which can lead to addiction.

What To Say:

Smokeless tobacco has many unappealing and dangerous side effects. Telling your teen about these effects can help you snuff out a smokeless tobacco habit before it even starts.

One of the most serious threats-oral cancer-can lead to surgery on the mouth, throat, jaw, or other areas. This surgery can leave the face or neck disfigured and can damage a person's ability to speak or eat. Furthermore, oral cancer caused by smokeless tobacco can be deadly. Only 56 percent of people with mouth or throat cancer live more than 5 years beyond the time of diagnosis.6

Aside from the cancer risk, using smokeless tobacco can make your teen smell bad and can give him stained or rotting teeth, which can hamper his social life. Tobacco chewing and spitting may "gross out" his friends or keep him from getting dates.

What To Do:

Besides giving a clear, consistent "no-use" message to your teen about smokeless tobacco, you also can:

• Encourage your teen to choose friends who are tobacco-free. Teen athletes may use smokeless tobacco because other kids in their sport are using it. Talk to your teen's coach about ways to urge all team players to stay away from tobacco.
• Use the media as a teaching tool. If your teen sees a sports player on TV chewing tobacco, ask her why she thinks some players use tobacco and if she's aware of the harmful effects. Help your child analyze TV messages and ads that might glamorize tobacco use.
• Research sports role models who are anti-tobacco, and share this information with your teen. You can also research stories of sports figures who got oral cancer because of tobacco use.
• Be a good role model by keeping yourself and your home tobacco-free.

If your child already uses smokeless tobacco, help him quit. Your doctor can make suggestions and talk to the both of you about any medications or cessation programs that might be helpful for your child. See "Additional Resources" below for more information about helping your teen snuff out the smokeless tobacco habit.

Sources:

1. American Council on Exercise. "Fit Facts: Kids in Motion," last referenced 7/28/2004. (A print version of this publication was released in 2001.)
2. Castrucci, B. C., K. K. Gerlach, N. J. Kaufman, and C. T. Orleans. 2004. Tobacco Use and Cessation Behavior Among Adolescents Participating in Organized Sports. American Journal of Health Behavior 28(1): 63-71.
3. Ibid.
4. MayoClinic.com. Smokeless Tobacco: Addictive and Harmful, last referenced 7/29/2004.

5 Ibid.

Differences between the sexes is an age-old topic. Yet, when it comes to alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use, a new study shows that we have a lot to learn.

What To Know:

Young females have been catching up to young males in their use of harmful substances. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University did a 3-year study to look for answers that might be specific to girls and young women.1

Looking at both causes and effects, the CASA study found that alcohol and drug use is much different for young females than for young males.

So, why do girls and young women turn to harmful substances? Often, young females who use them are trying to cope. Girls and young women may seek to:

• Improve mood.
• Boost confidence.
• Relieve stress.
• Lower inhibitions.2

More than teen boys, teen girls feel it is easy to get LSD, crack, cocaine, and heroin. They are just as likely as teen boys to say that marijuana is easy to get. Teen girls also are less likely to have to prove their age when they try to buy cigarettes.3

Other issues related to young females' underage drinking, smoking, and illegal drug use include:

• Dieting and concern about weight.
• Sexual and physical abuse.
• Influence of peers.
• Life changes-early puberty, moving often, and moving on to high school and college.4

The CASA report also revealed that caffeine is linked to young females' use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. Girls and young women who drink coffee are much more likely to smoke and drink alcohol than girls and young women who do not drink coffee.5 Young women who drink coffee also begin smoking and drinking alcohol at earlier ages.6

What's more, young females are more likely than young males to suffer the physical effects of harmful substances. The study found that:

• Girls are more likely to become addicted to nicotine and cocaine.
• Females start abusing alcohol faster than males.
• Females are more likely to suffer alcohol-related health problems.
• Girls and young women are more likely to have these problems even when they use the same amount or less of a substance than young males.7

What To Say:

Parents may find it hard to talk with their daughters about the use of harmful substances. Yet, it's worth the effort. In CASA's survey of 8- to 22-year-olds throughout the country, most girls who talked with their parents about smoking, alcohol use, and illegal drug use said they were less likely to use substances as a result. Half of the girls who had these chats with their parents said they learned something new.8 So, it's crucial that parents know the facts about substance use.

Talking about interests and daily life can help, too. Discussing friends, dating, and other concerns can help young people make good choices and deal with tense situations. This can be vital for young females given the large role that tension, mood, and life changes play in their use of substances.

Caring adults should stay positive. Let young females know that you value them and the things they care about. At the same time, be clear and firm about your response to substance use and other problem behavior.

What To Do:

There's a lot that parents and other caring adults can do to make girls and young women less likely to use alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs:

• Keep the lines of communication open. The CASA survey showed that young females who have a close bond with their parents are less likely to use illegal drugs. These girls also wait longer to start using alcohol.
• Look for upbeat influences for your daughter. Taking part in faith-based activities and activities outside the classroom can protect girls from substance abuse.9
• Stay alert for substance abuse risks. A young female who is depressed, anxious, or shows extreme concern about her weight and appearance has an increased chance of turning to a harmful substance. Sexual activity-both risky behavior or abuse-and physical abuse are often linked to substance use.
• Back words with action. Besides lending support and laying out clear rules, parents need to be good role models-don't abuse alcohol, smoke, or use illegal drugs.

Sources:

1. Join Together Online. CASA Finds Differences in Why Girls vs. Boys Use Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Other Drugs, last referenced 12/3/03.
2. CASA. The Formative Years: Pathways to Substance Abuse Among Girls and Young Women Ages 8-22, [pdf] last referenced 12/3/03.
3. Ibid.
4. Join Together Online. CASA Finds Differences in Why Girls vs. Boys Use Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Other Drugs, last referenced 12/3/03.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. CASA. The Formative Years: Pathways to Substance Abuse Among Girls and Young Women Ages 8-22, [pdf] last referenced 12/3/03.

Additional Resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: I QUIT!-What To Do When You're Sick of Smoking, Chewing, or Dipping (A print version of this publication was released in 2003.)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Tips for Teens: The Truth About Tobacco (A print version of this publication was released in 2000.)
U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Medline Plus: Smokeless Tobacco
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Tobacco Use