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Adolescent Health

Underage Substance Use Prevention
commentary
Anti-Drug Education: Time for a New Bumper Sticker
Matthew Chinman
Jul 20, 2017
Fortune
Effective drug prevention in America could start by helping school districts adopt evidence-based programs that work. Unlike DARE, which failed, there are programs that teach children to make wise and responsible decisions about drugs, and won't break the bank.
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Sleep
commentary
Tired but Wired Youth: A Toxic Combination
Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel
May 18, 2017
Thrive Global
The recent death of a South Carolina teen, reportedly of a caffeine overdose, is both tragic and avoidable. It should be a wake-up call for all Americans. Getting sufficient sleep should be a top health priority.
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Sleep
commentary
Why Early School Start Times Are a Threat to Public Health
Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel
Apr 20, 2017
Thrive Global
Sleep-deprived teens are more likely to be involved in motor vehicle crashes and to abuse drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes — all of which are public health concerns. But delaying school start times remains challenging for many districts.
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Sleep
essay
The Costs of Poor Sleep Are Staggering
Mar 1, 2017
Research shows that a little more sleep could help America's families, military, and economy.
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Sleep
commentary
Students Shouldn't Lose Sleep Over the Liberty Bridge Fire
Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel, Tamara Dubowitz @TamaraDubowitz
Sep 21, 2016
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The fire and resulting closure of the Liberty Bridge is forcing some Pittsburgh high school students to sacrifice sleep to meet a new 7:11 a.m. start time. Sleep loss has consequences for adolescents' minds, bodies, behavior, and for public safety.
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Parenting
commentary
What Your Kids Need to Know About Marijuana, Legalized or Not
Elizabeth J. D'Amico
Sep 21, 2016
Los Angeles Times
If you are a parent, no matter how you feel about legalizing marijuana, you need to be prepared to talk about the drug with your kids.
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Adolescent Health
essay
Fake Convenience Store, Real Implications for Youth Smoking
Mar 3, 2016
In a simulated convenience store, hiding the can't-miss display of tobacco products behind the cashier decreased kids' intention to smoke in the future.
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Smoking Cessation
commentary
Sniping: Homeless Youths' High-Risk Smoking Practice
Joan Tucker, William Shadel @william_shadel
Oct 29, 2015
Orange County Register
Any intervention to help homeless youth quit smoking must also address 'sniping.' This high-risk activity involves scavenging cigarette butts and filters to make a 'new' cigarette.
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Sleep
commentary
When the School Bell Tolls Too Early
Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel
Aug 10, 2015
The Park Record
School schedules can bring sleep-defying stresses to kids and teens. But there are strategies for parents to get their families 'sleep-ready' for the school year.
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Underage Substance Use Prevention
commentary
What Works in Early Life to Prevent Tobacco and Alcohol Addiction?
Daniel Schweppenstedde
Apr 23, 2015
The RAND Blog
Tobacco and alcohol addiction are widespread public health risks across the European Union. Both merit tackling at a young age. Evidence-based, early interventions are available that can be applied in small-scale settings to prevent underage alcohol and tobacco abuse.
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Tobacco and Smoking
commentary
Last Week Tonight's Jeff the Diseased Lung Is No Joke
Jeffrey Wasserman
Feb 20, 2015
The RAND Blog
John Oliver's "Jeff the Diseased Lung," a cross between a warning label on cigarette packs in Australia and the Marlboro Man, has gone viral while research shows cigarettes are responsible for even more premature deaths than previously thought.
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Parenting
commentary
Adults Are Concerned About Sons Playing Football, Especially the More Highly Educated and Obama 2012 Voters
Katherine Grace Carman @KGCarman, Michael Pollard
Nov 4, 2014
The RAND Blog
According to new data, 44 percent of American adults wouldn't be comfortable letting their sons play football. Roughly the same percentage was uncomfortable with their sons playing ice hockey.
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Childhood Trauma
blog
How Schools Can Help Students with Traumatic Stress
Oct 2, 2014
Schools are in a unique position to recognize traumatic stress in children. But first, adults throughout the school system -- including teachers, staff, administrators, school resource officers, and parents -- must be aware of the issue, know how to detect signs of trauma exposure, and create a supportive environment.
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Parenting
commentary
Germs Go Back to School, Too: Five Ways to Protect Your Kids
Jeanne Ringel @JeanneRingel
Aug 25, 2014
The RAND Blog
With kids working and playing in close contact and sharing supplies and equipment, schools can be hotbeds for infection. Each year, K-12 students miss about 60 million school days due to colds and the flu combined. But these five approaches can help reduce their chance of spreading infections and getting sick.
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Mental Health and Illness
commentary
We Need to Talk About the Taboo — 'Mental Health Matters'
Marie-Louise Henham
Aug 11, 2014
The RAND Blog
The stigma surrounding mental health often leads young people to shy away from seeking the help and support they need. This year's celebration of the UN's International Youth Day (12th August) focuses on mental health and aims to remove the stigma.
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Media Influences On Health
commentary
Dutch and UK Adolescents See More Alcohol Advertising on TV Than Adults
Eleanor Winpenny
May 23, 2014
The RAND Blog
Adolescents in the UK and the Netherlands (but not in Germany) see more alcohol adverts on television, per hour of television watched, than adults. These differences result from the different viewing times, channels watched, and the placement of adverts.
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Tobacco and Smoking
commentary
Where There's Vapor, Is There Fire? We Need Evidence on E-Cigarettes
William Shadel @william_shadel, Joan Tucker, Steven Martino
Mar 4, 2014
The Health Care Blog
Currently, evidence for the safety, harmfulness, utility, and addictiveness of e-cigarettes is lacking. The questions that research needs to answer, however, are clear as day—particularly since business is booming.
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Media Influences On Health
blog
What Effect Does Media Have on Youth?
Sep 3, 2013
American youth live in an environment saturated with media. What effects does this have on their health and well-being?
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Adolescent Health
blog
Teen Employment May Not Always Be a Boon for At-Risk Youth
Karen Chan Osilla, Sarah B. Hunter, Rajeev Ramchand @RRamchand, Jeremy N. V. Miles, Elizabeth J. D'Amico
Dec 18, 2012
For all teens, and especially those who have already experienced problems related to alcohol and drug use, it is essential to monitor the quality of work experiences and keep in mind that some work environments might increase risk for substance use.
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Extracurricular Activities
commentary
Dropping Out, Imprisoned or Killed: Disparities in Outcomes Faced by Young African American Men
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Aug 26, 2011
Tavis Smiley on PBS
Boys and men of color—in particular, young African American men—are particularly vulnerable to racial and ethnic disparities. That such disparities exist should surprise no one. Nor should the fact that such disparities diminish the life chances of those affected, writes Lois M. Davis.
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Adolescent Health

Anti-Drug Education: Time for a New Bumper Sticker

Tired but Wired Youth: A Toxic Combination

Why Early School Start Times Are a Threat to Public Health

The Costs of Poor Sleep Are Staggering

Students Shouldn't Lose Sleep Over the Liberty Bridge Fire

What Your Kids Need to Know About Marijuana, Legalized or Not

Fake Convenience Store, Real Implications for Youth Smoking

Sniping: Homeless Youths' High-Risk Smoking Practice

When the School Bell Tolls Too Early

What Works in Early Life to Prevent Tobacco and Alcohol Addiction?

Last Week Tonight's Jeff the Diseased Lung Is No Joke

Adults Are Concerned About Sons Playing Football, Especially the More Highly Educated and Obama 2012 Voters

How Schools Can Help Students with Traumatic Stress

Germs Go Back to School, Too: Five Ways to Protect Your Kids

We Need to Talk About the Taboo — 'Mental Health Matters'

Dutch and UK Adolescents See More Alcohol Advertising on TV Than Adults

Where There's Vapor, Is There Fire? We Need Evidence on E-Cigarettes

What Effect Does Media Have on Youth?

Teen Employment May Not Always Be a Boon for At-Risk Youth

Dropping Out, Imprisoned or Killed: Disparities in Outcomes Faced by Young African American Men

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