“We have the ‘teenage mental health crisis’ wrong; Depression drives social media use, not the other way around,” says Salon Commentary

Full analysis of the CDC’s massive survey data conclusively shows social media is a trivial issue, according to a Salon Commentary.  Parents’ and household grownups’ abuses are the major factor closely associated with every serious teenage trouble — a reality institutional America clearly does not want to engage. The correlation … Continue to full story .......

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Study shows that law enforcement strategies to curb underage drinking has decreased over past decade

Minor Alcohol Sting | Aransas Pass Police DepartmentDespite the harm that excessive alcohol consumption can cause in a community, use of some alcohol-related enforcement strategies remained low or decreased from 2010 to 2019, according to a new report in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. In particular, researchers found a drop in enforcement of underage … Continue to full story .......

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Alcohol plays an outsize role in firearm fatalities, says new report about alcohol as a risk factor for gun violence

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Texas businesses caught skirting ‘alcohol to go’ ID checks, sparking underage drinking concerns

Could Alcohol To-Go Become Permanent in Texas? | Houston PressNearly 70% of the time “alcohol to-go” was ordered for delivery or pick-up, no ID was requested.  Due to the pandemic, many small businesses were kept afloat thanks to new laws such as ‘alcohol to go’ passed in 2021. It allows beer, wine, and mixed drinks to be included in … Continue to full story .......

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New APH opioid dashboard shows data on overdoses, deaths

Opioid Overdose - The Prevention Council of PutnamAustin Public Health (APH) has published a new dashboard that will help community members access and view data on opioid overdoses. These efforts are part of preventing new overdoses – and especially deaths.  “This dashboard is part of an ongoing commitment by Austin Public Health and community partners to prevent

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Help your teen stay mentally healthy this summer!

Austin Oaks Hospital LogoHelping teens maintain their mental health is more important than ever. Focus on helping them improve handling stress and relating to others by encouraging social interactions and emotional awareness, says Austin Oaks Hospital.

Ideas for maintaining mental health this summer:
Try a new activity or learn a new sport … Continue to full story .......

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More potent than old-school pot, today’s cannabis has led to poisoning in youth

What appears more certain is that levels of THC in cannabis products have risen in recent years, according to an analysis, published in 2020 in the Addiction journal, of 80,000 cannabis samples collected in the United States and Europe. Minors’ illegal use of cannabis products has become a concern in … Continue to full story .......

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“Tucker’s Law” passes TX House and would require education about fentanyl prevention to Texas students in 6-12 grades

Tucker's law' would require fentanyl education in Texas schools“Tucker’s Law,” which would require education about fentanyl prevention and awareness at Texas public schools is now closer to becoming law after it passed through the Texas House on May 9th.  Stefanie Turner has been fighting for legislation since the death of her 19-year-old son, Tucker Roe, in 2021.

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Hays County man charged with felony murder in connection with 15-year-old’s fentanyl death

Man arrested after allegedly selling fentanyl to a Hays Co 15-year-old, who later died | KEYEA man has been charged with felony murder in connection with the fentanyl death of a 15-year-old student at Lehman High School. On April 11, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a home in Kyle where they discovered a 15-year-old student unresponsive and not breathing. During the investigation,

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Fentanyl-related overdoses doubled in a year in Travis County, per Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office

There were 417 overdose deaths last year, with 245 of them fentanyl-related. Despite significant work across Travis County over the last year, the number of overdose deaths increased 35 percent and the number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths climbed 108 percent. That number has increased tenfold since 2019 and has … Continue to full story .......

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ADHD medication abuse in schools is a ‘wake-up call’; 1 in 4 teens report they’ve abused prescription stimulants

Parents should use a lockbox, count pills and stay on top of early prescription refills, experts say.At some middle and high schools in the United States, 1 in 4 teens report they’ve abused prescription stimulants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder during the year prior, a new study found.  “This is the first national study to look at the nonmedical use of prescription stimulants by students in … Continue to full story .......

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Sen. Cornyn files bill to combat youth fentanyl crisis after multiple teens overdose in a Texas schools

Pill with fentanyl kills Plano TX teen Sienna Vaughn: family | Fort Worth  Star-Telegram “She made one mistake. But because fentanyl is so deadly, that mistake cost her her life,” said Ryan Vaughn, whose daughter, Sienna, was just 16 years old when she died of an overdose after unknowingly ingesting fentanyl.  The cheerleader and high school junior had just finished enjoying a barbecue at

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