FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Press Release)
September 1, 2010 - New research from the Partnership for a
Drug-Free America shows that more than one-third of parents
are concerned that TV (38 percent), computers (37 percent) and
video games (33 percent) make it harder for them to communicate
with their media-engrossed teens about risky behaviors, like
drug and alcohol use. The survey of more than 1,200 parents
also confirms that a quarter or more are worried that newer
forms of media, including cell phone texting (27 percent) social
networking sites, like Facebook (25 percent) and Twitter (19
percent) hinder effective parent/child communication about the
dangers of teen substance abuse”, according to the Partnerships
for a Drug-Free America website.
According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study of 2,000 teens
released earlier this year, “the average amount of time young
people (8-18 year olds) spend consuming entertainment media
is up dramatically to almost eight hours per day – that’s at
least 53 hours a week of immersion in some form of media. The
research also noted that the more media teens consume, the less
happy they tend to be and those who are most captivated by media
reported their academic performance suffered. About half (47
percent) of heavy media users reported they usually get fair
to poor grades, mostly C’s or lower, compared to about a quarter
(23 percent) of light media users”, states the Partnership website.
These recent findings present a clear picture of the opportunity
for Teen Drug Abuse Risk Factors. Common behaviors
found in teens who are abusing drugs includes
isolation, social life withheld from parents thru password coded
or invitation only websites (Facebook, MySpace) social sites
or media (YouTube, Twitter,) and telephone texting, in addition
to declining academic interest and declining grades, and an
immersion in societal perceptions of drug use.”, says
Karen Corcoran the Co-Founder of Inspirations For Youth And
Families, a teen residential substance abuse treatment
center.
Corcoran states: “This research reveals a need for
parents to take a more active role in their teenager’s
lives. Parents should be aware of how teens are spending their
time online and remain aware of the impact all media consumption
is having on their teens. Videos of teens using drugs, abusing
cough medicine, and becoming intoxicated, are readily available
on YouTube and other social networking websites. In many cases,
reality television glorifies and sensationalizes drug addiction,
teen pregnancy, and dysfunction in the family.” According
to Corcoran, a mental health professional and parent of young
adults, “It is difficult to gain knowledge of a teen’s
social life and friends if communication, along with time
spent between parent and adolescent was not previously established.
Parents taking time to speak with their children while spending
quality time together, are less likely to become isolated
from their child-turned-teen and more likely to transition
into the role of parental investigator.”
According to research, kids and teen’s cell phone ownership
has increased sharply since 2004, from 39 percent to 66 percent
in 2009, while ownership of iPods jumped drastically from 18
percent to 76 percent over the same time period. Karen Corcoran
of Inspirations for Youth and Families, aka Inspirations Teen
Rehab states: “Teen use of cellular telephones, which
now includes internet accessibility, further distances the teenager
from parental monitoring and protection.” Among kids and
teens, cell phone ownership has increased since 2004, from 39
percent to 66 percent in 2009, while ownership of iPods increased
from 18 percent to 76 percent over the same time period. Corcoran
further states: “ If cell phones and ipods are not enough
to create a growing concern regarding teen behaviors, early
teenage access to vehicles will definitely initiate a concern
regarding the separation that teen driving creates between the
teenager and parent. When teenagers are given a car or any motorized
transportation, it immediately creates a teen world withheld
from the supervision of parents and family.” “Teen
drug use, teen drug abuse, and other dangerous behaviors are
just the beginning of a teenagers exposure to a world in which
teens are unprepared to encounter, when the parent’s ability
to monitor a teen is removed,” according to Karen
Corcoran.
Inspirations for Youth and Families and their Inspirations Teen
Rehab Addictoin Treatment program knows all-to-well, the
results of teen behavior and poor choices, associated with over
exposure to media and the isolation of teen’s parents
it creates. “Teens entering teen rehab, report an ability
to withhold most of their daily activities and knowledge of
their social life, from their parents and family members,”
states Dr.
James Hughes, Chief Executive Officer and child psychologist
for Inspirations for Youth and Families. LLC.
Teenagers entering their freshman year of high school or
returning to high school, presents an opportunity for parents
to set new boundaries, begin conversations, and schedule parent
and teen talk-time, in an effort to prevent the typical teen
behavior issues and teen drug use and teen drug abuse concerns.
Take time to talk with your teenager. Create family
time. Communication with teens is the best prevention tool
a parent can use.
Inspirations for Youth and Families aka, Inspirations Teen
Rehab is here to help your teen and your family through this
difficult process.
Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click
or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for
is not found here and you need immediate attention you may
contact us:
Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237
Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237
http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com
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