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Federal Resources
Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide
This guide offers research-based principles and approaches for practitioners to consider when treating adolescent substance abuse, as well as information about settings in which treatment occurs, the role of family and medical professions in treatment and recovery, and frequently asked questions about adolescent drug use.
Research-based Strategies Help Reduce Underage Drinking
An evaluation of studies conducted since the 2007 release of the Surgeon General’s report, “Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking” reveals that the approaches outlined in the report show promise in preventing underage drinking. Some of the suggested strategies that were reviewed include nighttime restrictions on young drivers, strict license suspension policies, interventions focused on partnerships between college campuses and the community, and routine screening by physicians to identify and counsel underage drinkers.
Results From the 2014 Monitoring the Future Survey
The annual Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey measures the current drug use by and attitudes toward drugs of students in grades 8, 10, and 12. Results show that use of cigarettes and alcohol and abuse of prescription pain relievers among teens has declined since 2013, but rates of marijuana use were stable. Measured for the first time in the 2014, the use of electronic cigarettes is high among teens, with past-month use at 8.7% for 8th graders, 16.2% for 10th graders, and 17.1% for 12th graders.
Scientists Spot Gene Tied to Severe Autism
In a recent study, researchers claim to have discovered a new genetic cause of autism, singling out a rare gene mutation. The gene, CTNND2, provides instructions for making a protein called delta-catenin, which plays a crucial role in the nervous system. Researchers found that a group of girls with severe autism carried CTNND2 mutations that appeared to reduce the effectiveness of delta-catenin, potentially affecting their neurological development.
Teen Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Videos
The Choose Your Path activity includes two interactive videos that allow teens to assume the role of the main character and make decisions about whether to abuse certain prescription drugs.
Study: Counseling Beats School Suspension at Curbing Pot Use
A new study found that students at schools that impose suspensions for marijuana use are more likely to smoke pot than students at schools without such a policy. Data also show that counseling was found to be much more effective in reducing marijuana use than suspensions.
Study Finds Genetic Clue to Menopause-Like Condition in Young Women
New research from NIH contributes to the understanding of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), a disorder that causes a woman’s ovaries to stop working before she is 40 years old, sometimes as early as in her teens. POI can affect fertility and puts women at high-risk the onset of osteoporosis and heart disease.
The Anatomy of NIMH Funding
In response to calls for transparency, this blog post and corresponding white paper (PDF, 13 pages) written by NIMH director Thomas Insel provide insight into the NIMH budget, including what is funded, who is funded, and how funding decisions are made.
Targeting Suicide
Written by NIH Director Thomas Insel in light of the recent Germanwings crash, this blog post describes the importance of investing in research related to suicide, the tenth leading cause of death in the United States.
Study Defines Brain and Behavioral Effects of Teen Binge Drinking
A new study supported by the NIAAA suggests that adolescent binge drinking can disrupt gene regulation and brain development in ways that promote anxiety and excessive drinking behaviors that can persist into adulthood.
Treatment for Alcohol Problems: Finding and Getting Help
This web-based guide is intended for individuals and their families and friends seeking treatment for alcohol problems. It helps them understand available treatment choices and what to consider when selecting services.
Interns Graduate Project SEARCH-NIH Program, Eight Hired at NIH
Project SEARCH interns gathered on June 5, 2015, to celebrate their graduation from the program and their transition from interns to NIH staff members. Project SEARCH provides young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity for vocational education and training to prepare for competitive employment opportunities.
Boys More Likely to Have Antipsychotics Prescribed, Regardless of Age
New research funded by NIMH analyzed antipsychotic prescription data between 2006-2010. The data show that, in children ages 1-6, boys were more than twice as likely as girls to receive an antipsychotic prescription. This pattern held true for boys and girls ages 7-12, before narrowing for those ages 13-18, and finally becoming more comparable for young men and women ages 19-24.
Share with Youth: Teen Depression
Youth-serving professionals can use this resource, developed for teens, to educate young people about depression. It contains information about the signs and symptoms of depression, places to turn to for help, effective treatments for depression, steps teens can take to feel better, and the impact depression can have on relationships.
Media-Smart Youth PowerPoint Presentation
Media-Smart Youth is a free, interactive education program for youth ages 11-13, designed to empower young people to think critically about the media’s influence and to make informed decisions about nutrition and physical activity. NIH has designed a Media-Smart Youth PowerPoint presentation (PDF, 9 pages) that organizations can use to inform audiences about the program.
Director’s Blog: The Brain’s Critical Balance
Written by NIMH Director Thomas Insel, this blog post highlights one of early projects of the BRAIN Initiative, launched to support scientists as they conduct research on the brain, consciousness, and behavior. This project involves scientists at NIMH and the University of Maryland who are trying to understand how the activity of individual neurons integrates into larger patterns of brain activity
E-cigarettes May Affect Teen Tobacco Use
This article describes a study by researchers at the University of Southern California that analyzed e-cigarette use among high school students and its relationship with trying smoking tobacco products. Researchers analyzed data from more than 2,500 students who reported they had not smoked any tobacco products at the start of ninth grade. After six months, 31% of those who had used e-cigarettes started smoking tobacco, compared to 8% of those who had never used e-cigarettes. Over the next six months, 25% of e-cigarette users reported they had smoked tobacco in the past six months, compared to 9% of those who had not used e-cigarettes.
Better Nutrition Every Day: How to Make Healthier Food Choices
This article provides tips for parents on making healthy food choices and shares advice on involving young people in preparing meals, making healthy choices when eating on the go, and reading food labels when grocery shopping.
E-cigarette Use Among Teens
This video describes a study analyzing health questionnaire data from more than 2,000 high school students, in which they were asked whether they currently, or had ever, smoked an e-cigarette or a combustible cigarette. The results show that more students had used an e-cigarette than a combustible cigarette, and had friends who used them. Almost half of e-cigarette users reported they did not believe there were health risks associated with the devices, and overall, students indicated a social environment more favorable to e-cigarettes.
Share with Youth: Body Weight Planner
USDA and NIH developed the Body Weight Planner, an interactive online tool that allows individuals who are trying to lose or gain weight see how they need to change their eating or physical activity levels to meet their goals. Users enter their age, weight, height, physical activity level, gender, and weight goal for personalized results. Users can also track their progress and receive periodic updates on how their progress matches up to their goals.
Webinar Recording: Bullying Prevention and Suicide Prevention for Schools
The recording is now available for the webinar, Bullying Prevention and Suicide Prevention for Schools: A Digital Approach From SAMHSA, presented by SAMHSA and the American School Health Association. The webinar provided an overview of the risk and impact of bullying and suicide in school-aged children and highlighted the connection between these public health issues and the "whole child" concept. The webinar also showcased SAMHSA's mobile applications, KnowBullying and Suicide Safe, and other key tools to promote bullying prevention and suicide prevention in schools.
Study: Large Percentage of Youth with HIV May Lack Immunity to Measles, Mumps, Rubella
Based on data gathered from more than 600 children and youth exposed to HIV in the womb, a study from NIH and CDC suggests that between one-third and one-half of individuals in the United States who were infected with HIV around the time of birth may not have sufficient immunity to ward off measles, mumps, and rubella, even though they may have been vaccinated against these diseases.
Resource: Address College Drinking
NIAAA released CollegeAIM, a matrix-based instrument that can help educate college staff about underage student drinking interventions and guide them in implementing evidence-based interventions. CollegeAIM also allows officials to compare approaches and select a combination that meet the needs of their students and campus.
Resource: AIDSinfo Education Materials: Infographics
These infographics feature answers to commonly asked questions about HIV and are available in English and Spanish. Topics covered include antiretroviral therapy, the difference between HIV and AIDS, and living with HIV.
Recent Event: Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
This Twitter chat featured Dr. Ellen Leibenluft, Chair of the Section on Bipolar Spectrum Disorder and expert on severe irritability in children, who answered questions on disruptive mood dysregulation disorder submitted by Twitter users.