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Stoned in the Summertime" |
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"Summertime---and the livin' is easy. Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high."
-DuBose Heyward, 1935
According to statistics, it's not just the cotton that's high---it's our teens.A study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), reveals that each day in June and July, over 6,000 teens will smoke pot for the first time. To get some insight, we talked to Tara Arnold, PhD,(www.TaraArnoldInc.com) who specializes in substance abuse and other mental health issues.
Tara Arnold, PhD
Tara Arnold is a psychotherapist in private practice treating addiction, eating disorders, anxiety and depression. In addition to her private practice, she has taught at the University of Georgia and presents educational lectures around the country. You can learn more about Dr. Arnold on her website, www.TaraArnoldInc.com .
TTT: According to SAMHSA, more teens smoke pot for the first time in June and July. What are your thoughts on this?
TA: Summertime means kids have less supervision, more time with peers, and they are out of school. These factors can lead to less goal focus and consequence orientation.
TTT: If nearly 40% of teens have tried marijuana during high school, how can we make sure our child stays in the 60% that doesn't?
TA:Talk to your children early about the dangers of drugs. Don't overreact if they talk about friends' use. This keeps communication channels open and understand what your children are exposed to. Keep kids busy with hobbies, volunteer opportunities, activities and supervision. Keeping kids in trusted supervised activities is important to ensure accountability.
TTT: How much does peer pressure factor in to kids smoking pot?
TA: Peer pressure is a huge influence in any behavior of a teen. It is advisable to really educate them on srategies for refusing drugs, while saving face for teens.
TTT: Should we curtail friendships that we think are bad for our kids?
TA: Make sure you keep teens away from negative peers
as much as possible, including restrictions/
punishments if they're caught being dishonest.
TTT: What signs do we look for that a teen is smoking pot?
TA: Look for large quantities of food disappearing from the pantry or other evidence of binging. Also, lowered motivation, red eyes, use of incense/candles, smoke smell or increased sleep can all be signs of usage.
TTT: What do you think about random drug testing?
TA: Yes, test if you suspect them of use.
TTT: Is it possible to become addicted to marijuana?
TA: Yes, addiction is possible and is argued to be habit or chemical dependence.
TTT: What should a parent do if they know their child is smoking pot?
TA: If parents know their teen is smoking pot; they need
to talk, discourage, and if there's a strong family
history of substance abuse, intervene more intensely
(therapy or more) when necessary. | |
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April T3 Newsletter 2010
Why You Need to Say "No"
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From the Expert:
Setting Limits
Bee Hallman, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor)
says that teens feel safer emotionally and physically when they know what their parents expect of them. Often their inappropriate behavior is a way of asking parents to impose limits and boundaries because they're not mature enough to know what to do in many situations.
"I believe one of the biggest mistakes parents make is needing to be a friend to their teen rather than being a parent. Teens and parents need to know it's okay to disagree and be angry with each other sometimes, with the assurance that they still love each other." | |
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T3 Newsletter
The High Cost of Denial March 2010 |
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I recently talked to a mother who admitted to "burying her head in the sand" as a way to cope with worry. Denial is one of the most effective forms that the psyche has for dealing with events which are traumatic. For parents of teens, though, denial can have consequences which are life-threatening. I completely understand the desire to turn our heads when we see signs of drinking, smoking pot or sexual acting out with our children. Heck, if we don't say it, maybe it didn't happen, right?
Lisa Smith Henderson, Host
Been there, done that? Check in on the Parents Talk Truth Blog.
Teen Alcohol and Drug Use Is Up After a Decade of Decline
A new national study released last week shows that after ten years, alcohol and drug usage is up among American teens. For more details see the: Partnership Attitude Tracking Study.
Parents Delaying or Avoiding Treatment
Among the parents surveyed for the PATS study, 31% of parents of teens ages 14-19, say their child has used drugs or tried alcohol beyond the "experimental" level. What's alarming is that 47% of the parents of teens who have used either didn't take any action or waited to take action to help their child. By delaying intervention these teens are at greater risk of negative consequences as a result of continued alcohol and drug usage.
Should You Raid Your Teen's Room?
In the Teens Talk Truth CD, "Alcohol and Drugs, Volume II, a 17 year-old girl named, "Rory" gives parents her advice in this audio clip. Click here for this MP3 segment.
Thoughts from Lisa on Random Drug Testing
"One of my children's therapists recommended random drug testing as a way to improve accountability. I wish I'd followed her advice sooner. Knowing that they will be tested has given them a reason to say no to drugs without losing face with their peers. My children are also aware that there are serious consequences to a positive drug test. If it happens more than once it's automatically, " in-patient treatment". Fortunately, this hasn't happened, but with a history of alcoholism and addiction in my family, I'm very serious about this one and they know it."
(We stopped random drug testing my daughter at 19 and my son will continue with his random tests until his freshman year of college.) |
Resources for Help
"Time to Act" offers an online guide for parents who suspect or know their child is drinking or drugging. Click here to
take the first step. |
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Vote in the TTT Online Poll:
Are You in Denial? About Your Teen's Drinking, Pot, Sex, Online Sex Talk, Sexting?
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T3 Newsletter February 2010
Teen sex, STDs and pregnancy--- they all take my breath away! With my daughter's permission, I am pleased to tell you that in 2 weeks my grandson, Sawyer will be born. While my daughter is not a teenager (21), this pregnancy was unplanned and came smack dab in the middle of her college education. I felt strongly that my job as a parent was to support whatever decision she made and to let her reach that decision on her own. She's the one who would have to live with the consequences more fully than anyone. She is not married, but has a friendship with the baby's father and he's taking an active role in the baby's life. While, this is NEVER what I would've envisioned for her, I am proud of her strength and confident in her ability to be a great mother. She got a 3.98 with a full load last semester and plans to graduate on time. So, I've personally lived through the shock, drama and anxiety of an unexpected pregnancy.Since their method of birth control failed and the "morning after" pill didn't work, I think this little boy was determined to be born!
Lisa Smith Henderson, Host
(For more on this story, read the Parents Talk Truth Blog.)
Abstinence Education in Schools
Here's a snapshot of sex education in the last few decades in America. As part of the Welfare Reform Act in the 1980s, the law required any sexual education to be abstinence-based. From 1997-2007, the federal government spent more than $1 billion on programs that promoted abstinence as the only healthy choice before marriage. Unfortunately, for teens and taxpayers, the money the government spent on abstinence-promotion programs, including virginity pledges was ineffective. A recent study by Janet Rosenbaum, PhD for Johns Hopkins University showed that:
· 5 years after high school students took a "Pledge of Abstinence", 82% denied ever having taken the pledge.
· Pledgers and non-pledgers alike, didn't differ in premarital sex, STDs, anal and oral sex experiences.
· Their lifetime sexual partners and age of first sex were the same.
· The abstinence pledgers used birth control and condoms less within the last year, as opposed to non-pledgers.
For fiscal year, 2010, the funding for Community Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) was eliminated. In its stead is a new $110 million Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative (TPPI), which passed as part of the 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act, calling for a shift to programs that have been shown to be effective.
America's Teen Pregnancies
· The US has the highest teen birth rate of all industrialized nations at 41.9 per 1,000 girls age 15-19.
(United Nations Statistics Division)
· By comparison, the next closest country is the United Kingdom at 26.7 per 1,000.
· Of teens who do not terminate pregnancy, only 2% give their babies up for adoption.
· The largest group of pregnant teens 15-19, is White non-Hispanic (39%)
STDs
In a recent CDC study, researchers examined the prevalence of Human Papillomavirus, Chlamydia, Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 and Trichomoniasis, among girls aged 14-19 in the United States. Revealing:
· 50% of girls aged 14-19 have had sexual intercourse.
· Of these girls, 40% has/had an STD.
· After 15 years of decline, Syphilis is up 14%.
· 25% of teenage girls have Human Papillomavirus, HPV. (AMA)
·About 10 million teens will become infected with a sexually transmitted disease this year.
The Centers for Disease Control now recommends annual chlamydia screening for all sexually active women up to age 25. Additionally, their recommendation is for ALL females from 11-26 years of age be vaccinated against HPV with a series of Gardasil shots.
Herpes Simplex Virus
HSV-1 is typically known as the virus that causes "cold sores" on the mouth or face (often dubbed the good virus).HSV-2 is typically known as the virus found on the genitals (often dubbed the bad virus). Recently, there's been an increase in the cases of HSV-1 on the genitals, because of the rise in oral sex among teens.
· 70% of the U.S. population is infected with HSV-1.
· By age 50, nearly 90% of Americans are infected with HSV-1.
· 25-30% of the U.S. population is infected with HSV-2.
· It's estimated that HSV-1 now accounts for as many as 30% of all genital herpes cases in the U.S.
· Both HSV-1 and 2 can be transmitted at any time, because the "carrier" often has no visible symptoms,
but can still be shedding the virus.
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