Adolescent Health

Tobacco and Smoking
commentary
Vaping May Have Its Place, Just Not With Teens
Michael Stephen Dunbar, Elizabeth J. D'Amico
Dec 17, 2018
CNN
While e-cigarettes may be a “safer” option for adult smokers, they are not safe for young people. Teens who vape are significantly more likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes in the future.
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Social Media Analysis
blog
Best RAND Videos of 2018
Dec 19, 2018
RAND research yields findings that run the gamut of potential applications and promising policy solutions. Here, we highlight three of 2018's most captivating videos featuring RAND research and its potential to inform policy.
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Mental Health and Illness
commentary
Is Los Angeles County Successfully Creating a Youth Movement Around Mental Health Issues?
Rebecca L. Collins
Dec 6, 2018
Thrive Global
A new community engagement campaign called WhyWeRise seeks to increase awareness of mental health access as a civil rights issue and increase civic engagement. The campaign reached its target audience—people aged 14 to 24—and showed signs of changing attitudes toward mental illness.
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Underage Substance Use
q&a
How Marijuana Ads Affect Youth: Q&A with Elizabeth D'Amico
Aug 21, 2018
RAND's Elizabeth D'Amico discusses her research on how medical marijuana advertising influences adolescents' use of—and positive attitudes toward—the drug. Los Angeles County used her findings to limit the placement of marijuana billboards and signage outside dispensaries.
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Marijuana
commentary
Why Children Need to Be Shielded from Marijuana Ads
Elizabeth J. D'Amico
Jun 18, 2018
Los Angeles Times
By design, advertising is aimed at persuading us to want something. In the case of marijuana, that something is definitely not good for teenagers.
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Underage Substance Use
commentary
Advertising and Teens in the Era of the 'Blackout Brownie'
Elizabeth J. D'Amico
May 31, 2018
USA Today
Exposure to marijuana advertising may play a significant role in shaping teen attitudes about the drug, and contribute to increased marijuana use and related negative consequences throughout adolescence. Restrictions on marijuana advertising similar to those on alcohol and tobacco would likely help limit its exposure to teens.
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Sleep
commentary
Teens Are Driving Drowsy Every Day, and That's Dangerous
Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel
Mar 12, 2018
Salt Lake Tribune
About 1 in 10 car crashes are caused by drowsy driving, and young drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 account for more than half of them. Many parents unwittingly allow their teens to drive while tired on a daily basis.
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Substance Use Harm Reduction
commentary
Strategies to Help Young Adults Limit Negative Consequences of Marijuana Use
Eric R. Pedersen @ericrpedersen
Feb 19, 2018
The RAND Blog
Young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 have been shown to be the most prevalent and problematic users of marijuana. There are proven strategies that people can use to help protect themselves from experiencing harmful effects.
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Media Influences on Health
commentary
Does Social Media Depression in Young People Really Exist?
Lucy Hocking
Feb 6, 2018
Medical Xpress
What are the mental health risks to adolescents and young adults from the use of social media? And how can young people and social media companies manage these risks?
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Adolescent Health
commentary
Good Parenting or Good Policy? Both Are Needed to Curb the Epidemic of Teen Sleep Loss
Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel
Jan 27, 2018
USA Today
More rest improves teens' well-being, public safety, and academic performance. Later school start times promote better sleep for teens. School districts, communities, and parents should consider multi-pronged strategies that start with a later school bell.
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Evidence Based Health Practice
commentary
Evidence-Based Treatments May Be Casualties of War on Drugs
Matthew Chinman, Joie D. Acosta
Jan 15, 2018
The Hill
U.S. schools and community organizations face a difficult battle to keep kids safe and drug-free. They need tools to help them choose programs that will work best for youth. The National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices is such a tool, but its future is uncertain.
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Sleep
commentary
The Early Bird Catches the Worm? Probably Not, Says Science on School Start Times
Marco Hafner @econ_hafner, Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel
Sep 12, 2017
Thrive Global
School start times are becoming a hotly debated topic across the United States. Starting middle and high schools at 8:30 a.m. would improve teen health, and the economic benefits of this shift would likely outweigh the costs.
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Sleep
commentary
If Teenagers Get More Sleep, California Could Gain Billions
Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel, Marco Hafner @econ_hafner
Sep 7, 2017
Los Angeles Times
Two key effects of better-rested teens are improved academic performance and reduced motor vehicle crashes. Delaying school start times to 8:30 a.m. could result in economic benefits that would be realized within a matter of years — $10 billion in California alone.
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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 programs that work. These evidence-based programs can teach children to make wise and responsible decisions about drugs, and they 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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Underage Substance Use Prevention
commentary
Making Prevention a Priority
Matthew Chinman
Mar 7, 2016
VT Digger
A bill legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes in Vermont has a strong possibility of passing. Lawmakers and communities should focus on putting in place drug prevention programs aimed at young people, considering that their marijuana use is higher in Vermont than the national average.
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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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Family Planning
commentary
Policy Barriers to Best Practices: The Impact of Restrictive State Regulations on Access to Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives
Priya Batra, Chloe E. Bird @ChloeBirdPhD
Nov 6, 2015
Women's Health Issues
Long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods of birth control, which include the intrauterine device and subdermal implant, are highly effective, very safe, preferable to women, and cost effective. But some states' contraceptive policies create direct and indirect barriers to LARC use.
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Smoking Cessation
commentary
Sniping: Homeless Youths' High-Risk Smoking Practice
Joan S. Tucker, William G. 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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Drug Policy and Trends
commentary
The 10 Ps of Marijuana Legalization
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Jun 22, 2015
Berkeley Review of Latin American Studies
Marijuana policy is a growing topic of discussion, and laws are starting to change. Ten choices confronting jurisdictions considering legalization cover many of the critical decisions that will determine whether removing prohibition is a good idea.
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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 S. 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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Marijuana
commentary
Legalising Cannabis Is More Than Just a Yes or No Decision
Rosalie Liccardo Pacula @PaculaRosalie, Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
May 2, 2014
The Conversation
Any truly honest discussion about how to regulate cannabis markets must start with clear objectives and goals. How these markets are opened can be as important as the decision to legalise cannabis.
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Tobacco and Smoking
commentary
Where There's Vapor, Is There Fire? We Need Evidence on E-Cigarettes
William G. Shadel @william_shadel, Joan S. 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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Underage Substance Use Prevention
commentary
U.S. Needs to Improve Community-Based Drug, Alcohol Prevention
Matthew Chinman, Joie D. Acosta, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula @PaculaRosalie
Jan 31, 2014
The Orange County Register
As familiar as Americans are with the problems of youth drug and alcohol abuse, we are not identifying all the potential solutions. While observers criticize overemphasis in U.S. policy on enforcement and scant resources devoted to treatment, the focus on these approaches often ignores a key piece of the puzzle: prevention.
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Underage Substance Use Prevention
blog
Group Motivational Interviewing Can Help Teens Make Healthy Choices
Elizabeth J. D'Amico
Oct 29, 2013
Group motivational interviewing is a guided therapeutic approach that helps people think about their motivations for behavior and their commitment to change. It is an excellent fit for adolescents, because it engages them about their personal experiences while eliciting ideas about how they can change and make healthy choices.
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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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Tobacco and Smoking
commentary
Big Tobacco vs. Tobacco Regulation and Control: An Even Match?
William G. Shadel @william_shadel
Aug 26, 2013
The RAND Blog
Anti-tobacco policies that have clear scientific support will strengthen the FDA's regulatory position. While the evidence base is solid in this area, it needs to be much stronger and broader if the TCA is going to have any lasting success against the industry.
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Health Care Program Evaluation
blog
Getting To Outcomes: Improvement of Prevention Capacity Unveiled at a Summit of Maine Officials and Stakeholders
Matthew Chinman, Joie D. Acosta, Patricia A. Ebener
Apr 29, 2013
Community-based practitioners can improve their programs using Getting To Outcomes®, a toolkit, training, and onsite-support package which enhances their ability to prevent drug and alcohol use among youth.
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Health Care Program Evaluation
blog
'Implementation Science' May Help Providers Adopt New Treatments Despite Real-World Constraints
Matthew Chinman, Joie D. Acosta, Patricia A. Ebener
Feb 18, 2013
A new field called implementation science addresses the issue of how to best support providers to take up new, research-proven treatments and implement them well. A RAND study will test how well Boys & Girls Clubs carry out a program proven to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, with and without an intervention called Getting To Outcomes.
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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, 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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Underage Substance Use Prevention
blog
Webcast: Getting to Outcomes in Underage Drinking Prevention
May 21, 2012
In honor of National Underage Drinking Prevention Day, there will be a live, interactive webcast today (May 21) about successful approaches and resources to prevent underage drinking. The issue of underage drinking may sometimes be overshadowed by other forms of substance use, but it remains a steady and significant problem in the United States.
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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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commentary
Virginity Pledges Work for Some Teens
Steven Martino
Apr 1, 2009
Providence Journal
Essentially, the available research suggests that teaching abstinence alone to teenagers does not work — they are no more likely to delay the start of sexual activity than other teenagers. But research has not been so clear regarding virginity pledges specifically, writes Steven Martino.
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