By Frances M. Harding, Director, SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
According to a recent report from SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k13/NSDUH099b/sr099b-trends-prevention-messages.htm), between the early 2000s and 2011, fewer adolescents were exposed to drug or alcohol use prevention messages in the past year through media and school sources.  In fact, in 2011, 25 percent of adolescents did not receive prevention messages through media or school sources and 40 percent of adolescents did not talk with their parents about the dangers of substance use. Adolescents are subjected to influences …

By Frances M. Harding, Director, SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
 
A youth’s perception of risks associated with substance use is an important determinant of whether he or she engages in substance use.
A recent SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health report (http://www.samhsa.gov/data/2k13/NSDUH099a/sr099a-risk-perception-trends.pdf) surfaced several important perceptions among adolescents aged 12 to 17. Binge drinking can be categorized as having five or more alcoholic drinks once or twice a week. The good news is that the percentage of adolescents who perceived great risk from binge alcohol use has increased from 38.2 …

Guest Post By: Ronald Slaby, Ph.D., Senior Scientist & Kim Storey, EdD, Senior Scientist with National Center for the Promotion of Mental Health and Prevention of Youth Violence
SAMHSA’s National Center for the Promotion of Mental Health and Prevention of Youth Violence
 Bullying among young children is not uncommon. When groups of young children, who often differ significantly in physical size, skill level, and family experience, get together regularly, patterns of hurtful behavior often emerge. Children make mean faces, say threatening things, grab objects, push others aside, falsely accuse, or refuse to play …

Addressing Cyberbullying
Guest Post By: Melyn Huntley, Project Director, Safe Schools/Healthy Students
“People bully me. I want to die.”  The words echoed in the mind of the parent who found the crumbled note in her daughter’s room.  Words of desperation cried out for help.  How do you help her?  How serious is the threat?
Protecting your child is critical.  Today with online communications, a bully can follow their victim home to the aloneness of their bedroom.  If your child should become a victim of bullying, there are several things you should do.

Believe …

Written By:   Ingrid Donato, Branch Chief, Mental Health Promotions Branch & James Wright, Public Health Advisor, Division of Prevention, Traumatic Stress and Special Programs
Bystanders have the power to play a key role in preventing or stopping bullying. Their actions make a critical difference. Every day, kids and adults witness bullying. They want to help, but don’t know how. Fortunately, there are a few simple, safe ways that those who witness bullying can help:
Be a friend to the person being bullied.
Being friendly can go a long way toward letting a child who …