Making Headlines
TEENS CONSUMING RECORD AMOUNTS OF MEDIA
For immediate release
Winston-Salem, N.C. – According to new research from The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, teens are immersed in various forms of electronic media for 53 hours a week.
The research also shows more than one-third of parents are concerned the amount of media consumption hinders their ability to find time to communicate with their children, especially ages eight to 18.
TEEN DRUG ABUSE SPIKES; LOCAL STUDENTS ADDRESS PROBLEM
STATE FUNDING CUTBACKS LEAD 40 NORTH CAROLINA MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE ORGANIZATIONS TO HOLD TOWN HALL MEETING
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Greensboro, N.C. – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is required to cut roughly $1.5 billion from its budget this year.
These proposed cuts have lead health and human service professionals to call for a series of town hall meetings throughout North Carolina. A group called The Coalition is hosting the Piedmont Triad’s meeting on Tuesday, March 30 at 6:30pm at Guilford College in Dana Auditorium.
TEEN DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE SPIKES FOR FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A DECADE
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Winston-Salem, N.C. – The Partnership for a Drug-Free America/MetLife Foundation Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) shows the first reversal in the consistent decline of teen drug and alcohol abuse since 1998.
The number of teens in grades 9-12 that used alcohol in the past month is up to nearly 40 percent. Past year Ecstasy has increased a drastic 67 percent. Teen marijuana use in the past year has also spiked roughly 20 percent.
Underlying these increases are negative shifts in teen attitudes about the acceptability of drug use and drinking. Now 75 percent of teens agree “friends usually get high at parties.”
DRUG-FREE AMERICA LAUNCHES MARCH CAMPAIGN FOR RX AND OTC DRUG AWARENESS
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NEW YORK – Nearly one in five teens has used prescription medications to get high, and one in 10 has abused over-the-counter cough medication.
March is prescription and over-the-counter-drug awareness month. Many teens think these drugs are safe because they have legitimate uses, but taking them without a prescription to get high or “self-medicate” can be as dangerous – and addictive – as using street narcotics and other illicit drugs.
Partnership for a Drug-Free America and D.A.R.E. are working together on a nationwide community education program during the month of March. Visit www.rxotcawarenessmonth.com to learn more.