Gainesville Teens Tackling Underage Drinking

Two of our student members, Taylor Hall and Stefanie Darby, attended the National Youth Leadership Initiative conference this week in Phoenix, AZ.  While there, they learned how to assess local substance abuse problems and develop various plans in response. The Gainesville Times has a nice article covering the students and their time at the conference. You can check it out here.

[UPDATE]

We have added a brief video of Stefanie and Taylor discussing their time in Arizona.  You can view it below.

Inside the Teen Brain

NPR has a fantastic article discussing the formation of the teen brain and why it is that some teens do things that do not make a lot of sense to those of us who are older.  It appears that their brain is still developing!  Click here for the story!

More Teens Using Alcohol, Ecstasy, and Marijuana

After years of steady decline, there is now an upsurge in drug abuse among teens, according to a new national study released by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and the MetLife Foundation. To read more, click here.

Parent Forums – Youth Substance Abuse in Hall County

In an effort to acknowledge, raise awareness, and mobilize a community response to the dangers of alcohol and other drug abuse among youth in the county, the Hall County Schools and Gainesville City Schools systems, and the Drug Free Coalition of Hall County are sponsoring two parent forums.

The forums are open to the public and will provide an opportunity for parents to ask questions of concern to members of a panel.  The panels will be comprised of representatives from the Judicial System, Mental Health / Treatment Services, Recovery Community, School Administration, Faith Community, School Counseling, Law Enforcement, and Youth.  Retired Juvenile Court Judge John Girardeau will facilitate both forums.

Find out how drugs are impacting the youthful user, their families, and friends.  Identify ways we, as responsible adults, can deter Hall County’s youth from substance abuse and alcohol.

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 – 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Gainesville College & State University – Continuing Education Building /Auditorium

Thursday, January 21st, 2010 – 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Gainesville High School – Performing Arts Center

Any persons or organizations wanting more information should contact the Drug Free Coalition of Hall County by phone at 770-534-1080 x 277 or email at jpbanks@faceitpeople.org.

Download the official flyer here.  Spread the word!

Multiple Forms of Child Abuse May Lead to Greater Adolescent Binge Drinking

Child maltreatment has long been linked to substance abuse issues later in life.  A new study from Boston University has found that children who experience multiple types of abuse are at a particularly high risk for underage binge drinking. Adolescents aged 12-21 with a history of sexual abuse had twice as greater odds of binge drinking than those with no maltreatment; teens who experienced both neglect and physical abuse had 1.3 times higher odds, and those who experienced all three types of maltreatment were 1.8 times more likely to report binge drinking. The authors conclude, “Researchers examining the relationship between childhood maltreatments and risky alcohol use in adolescence should simultaneously consider all types of childhood maltreatment to address the totality of the child’s experience.”

Read the full article here.