A Significant Number of Teens Are Using Delta-8 Products

Teen Health & Wellness - 15 hours 39 min ago
According to the latest Monitoring the Future survey, more U.S. teens are experimenting with delta-8, a cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp plants. In 2023, 11 percent of 12th grade students reported using the substance. To put the results into perspective, that’s at least one or two students in every average-sized high school class, according to the National Institutes of Health, which provided funding for the survey. Ninety-one percent of the teens who used delta-8 also acknowledged using marijuana.

Delta-8 has comparable effects on the body and brain to delta-9 THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, but there’s no regulatory oversight in the U.S. for how delta-8 is manufactured or tested. Delta-8 users have reported adverse health effects like rapid heart rate, breathing problems, and even seizures. Health officials say teens are at greater risk because they can unintentionally overconsume edibles that contain delta-8 THC.
Categories: Teen Health

Colorado Teens Turn Grief Into Action After Losing Their Friend to Fentanyl Poisoning

Teen Health & Wellness - Mon, 2024-03-11 10:43
Fifteen-year-old Gavinn McKinney was well-known and warmly regarded by his Durango, Colorado, community. He was part of the Thunder Clan of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, and embraced the philosophy “Love is the cure.” Just days before his sixteenth birthday, McKinney tried hard drugs for the first time at a friend’s house and died from fentanyl poisoning.

In response to the devastating loss of McKinney, his friends and classmates are advocating for change. They drafted a bill that, if passed by state lawmakers, would permit Colorado high school students to carry naloxone—a medication capable of temporarily counteracting an opioid overdose and potentially proving lifesaving in such emergencies. In addition to naloxone access, the students also want improved drug education and programs aimed at addressing the overdose epidemic. “We realized we could actually make a change if we put our hearts to it,” said Niko Peterson, a senior at Animas High School in Durango and one of McKinney’s friends who helped write the bill. “Being proactive versus being reactive is going to be the best possible solution. ... We’re making things happen on behalf of him.”
Categories: Teen Health

Experts Warn That Teens May Be Damaging Their Skin with Anti-Aging Products

Teen Health & Wellness - Mon, 2024-03-04 06:38
Dermatologists are seeing an increase in teen patients who have developed rashes, burning, breakouts, and other skin issues after using products that are intended for adult skin. Dr. Jayden Galamgam, a UCLA dermatologist interviewed by NBC News, says ingredients like exfoliating acids and retinoids are particularly problematic for teens. While these address concerns like wrinkles and acne for adults, they tend to be too harsh for young skin.

It’s tempting to think that products with stronger ingredients will lead to better, faster results. However, using these types of products can cause rapid turnover of young skin cells, resulting in extreme dryness and sensitivity to the sun. Experts say you should stick to gentle cleansers and lightweight moisturizers, and only try stronger methods if a dermatologist or health care provider has recommended them.
Categories: Teen Health

More intense exercise reduces post-concussion anxiety in teens

Teen Health 2 - Tue, 2024-02-20 12:45
Returning to moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) after a concussion may play a vital role in helping teens feel less anxious while recovering from the injury, according to a new study.
Categories: Teen Health

FDA Approves New Medication to Treat Severe Food Allergies

Teen Health & Wellness - Tue, 2024-02-20 06:34
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first medication that can help protect against multiple severe food allergies, including milk, eggs, and nuts. The drug, called Xolair, is not taken during an allergic reaction. Instead, it is taken at regular intervals, such as every few weeks, to help reduce the risk of allergic reactions over time. Xolair is not a cure, so people taking the drug must continue to avoid foods they are allergic to. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 6 percent of people in the United States have a food allergy that could lead to a potentially life-threatening reaction.
Categories: Teen Health

Vittrup Man crossed over from forager to farmer before being sacrificed in Denmark

Teen Health 2 - Wed, 2024-02-14 13:02
Vittrup Man was born along the Scandinavian coast before moving to Denmark, where he was later sacrificed, according to a new study.
Categories: Teen Health

New CDC Report Says More Teens Are Using Drugs to Deal with Stress and Anxiety

Teen Health & Wellness - Mon, 2024-02-12 10:29
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new findings on why teens might experiment with drugs and alcohol. The study, the first of its kind, expands on limited research previously done on why teens use drugs. CDC researchers surveyed teens who were receiving treatment for substance abuse. While many participants said they turned to substances to feel calm or relaxed, nearly half said they used drugs or alcohol to stop worrying about their problems, forget bad memories, or to help with depression or anxiety. This aligns with previous reports that teens are currently experiencing unprecedented levels of hopelessness, anxiety, and depression.

The study also found that half of the teens said they frequently used substances by themselves, without others present. Researchers noted that using drugs or alcohol while alone significantly increases the risk of overdose, especially with the rise of counterfeit pills that contain illegal substances but are designed to look like prescription medications. With no one else around, an overdose can easily become fatal.
Categories: Teen Health

February Is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Teen Health & Wellness - Mon, 2024-02-05 09:47
Dating abuse is more common than you think. It’s estimated that 1 out of 3 teens will be hurt by someone they date before becoming an adult. Dating violence happens when your partner tries to control you through emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. This could be name calling that puts you down, extreme jealousy or insecurity, isolating you from friends or family, explosive outbursts or mood swings, or physically harming you. It can happen in person or online.

You have the right to be treated with respect in your relationships, and feeling afraid, controlled, or put down is a sign that something is wrong. It’s important to talk to someone you trust, like a parent, teacher, or counselor. There are also resources like loveisrespect.org that provide confidential support and can connect you to services in your community.
Categories: Teen Health

Researchers find early symptoms of psychosis spectrum disorder in youth higher than expected

Teen Health 2 - Tue, 2024-01-30 15:28
A new study has found evidence that Psychosis Spectrum Symptoms (PSS) are often present in youth accessing mental health services.
Categories: Teen Health

Asthma rates climb for high school students as cannabis use increases

Teen Health 2 - Mon, 2024-01-29 10:24
Asthma is more common among high school students who use cannabis, relative to those who do not and the prevalence of asthma increases with the frequency of its use among the students, according to a new study.
Categories: Teen Health

Teens Believe Social Factors Like Social Media and Bullying Are Worsening the Youth Mental Health Crisis

Teen Health & Wellness - Mon, 2024-01-29 09:55
A recent survey of kids and teens revealed that mental health issues are their biggest concern, with 30 percent listing it as their top problem. The study, conducted by the nonprofit organization Common Sense Media, found that girls are more likely than boys to rank mental health challenges as most important. The majority of teens rate the mental health of youth in their community as just fair or poor. Girls are especially pessimistic, with 69 percent giving these low ratings compared to 59 percent of boys. When asked about causes of the youth mental health crisis, teens cite social media and bullying/discrimination as major contributing factors.
Categories: Teen Health

Colorado Teens Are Training to Become 911 Dispatchers

Teen Health & Wellness - Mon, 2024-01-22 09:53
A high school in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is introducing a new emergency telecommunications course to train students to become 911 dispatchers immediately after graduation. With an urgent need for more dispatchers in the county, officials see this as a way to get teens into emergency response careers and help their communities decrease the time it takes to link people needing help to lifesaving support.

The course teaches students the procedures and protocols to become certified to handle calls in a dispatch center, guiding them on calmly communicating with distressed callers and sending emergency responders. The 40-hour certification is completed through two hours of class time per week. Other Colorado schools have introduced similar programs where students practice CPR and other lifesaving skills to learn how to become emergency medical responders and emergency medical technicians.
Categories: Teen Health

Childhood stress linked to higher risk of high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes in adults

Teen Health 2 - Wed, 2024-01-17 12:37
Young adults who reported higher stress as adolescents were more likely to have high blood pressure, obesity and other cardiometabolic risk factors as adults, finds new study.
Categories: Teen Health

One in Ten Teens Globally Have Used Risky Weight Loss Products

Teen Health & Wellness - Tue, 2024-01-16 07:45
A new study published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open says almost one in ten teens have used ineffective and potentially harmful nonprescription weight-loss products like laxatives, diet pills, supplements, and diuretics. These types of products are promoted heavily on TikTok and Instagram, but they haven’t been tested for safety or proven to produce meaningful weight loss. In addition to being linked to serious health problems, experts say these types of products can actually lead to gaining weight in the long term and may put some users at risk of developing eating disorders.
Categories: Teen Health

About 22 high school age adolescents in U.S. died each week from overdoses in 2022, driven by fentanyl-laced prescription pills

Teen Health 2 - Mon, 2024-01-08 10:58
An average of 22 adolescents 14 to 18 years of age died in the U.S. each week in 2022 from drug overdoses, raising the death rate for this group to 5.2 per 100,000 -- driven by fentanyl in counterfeit pills. The researchers also found 19 'hotspot' counties with particularly high overdose deaths in Arizona, California, Illinois, Washington, Texas, Nevada, Colorado, Missouri, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Indiana.
Categories: Teen Health

Researchers Say Diabetes Treatment Breakthrough Could Lead to End of Insulin Injections

Teen Health & Wellness - Mon, 2024-01-08 08:39
Researchers from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia, say they have discovered a potential new treatment for type 1 diabetes. Scientists were able to manipulate existing pancreatic stem cells to start producing insulin. The treatment, which uses existing cancer drugs, could eventually replace the need for regular insulin injections.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that can appear at any time in life. It stems from the destruction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. While this technique is still in early stages, health officials say it represents a promising, rapid treatment approach compared to current type 1 diabetes care.
Categories: Teen Health

Older adults with newly diagnosed migraine disorder three times more likely to have motor vehicle crash

Teen Health 2 - Wed, 2024-01-03 11:10
A new study finds that older adult drivers who are recently diagnosed with migraines are three times as likely to experience a motor vehicle crash. Older adult drivers who reported having ever had migraines in the past were no more likely to have a motor vehicle crash than those without migraines.
Categories: Teen Health

Happy New Year!

Teen Health & Wellness - Tue, 2024-01-02 06:57
The start of a new year is a great time to think about what you want to accomplish in the months ahead. Setting goals can give you something to work toward and help motivate you to improve yourself. Come up with a few specific, realistic goals for the year. For example, you might want to raise your math grade, learn to play guitar, or join a new club at school. Write your goals down and revisit them every few months to track your progress. Don’t be hard on yourself or get stressed if you encounter difficulties—keeping your goals in sight and moving forward is what matters.
Categories: Teen Health

First Treatment for Teens with Severe Alopecia Has Been Approved in the U.S. and Canada

Teen Health & Wellness - Mon, 2023-12-18 09:53
Over the summer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new treatment for teens with severe alopecia (a disorder in which the immune system attacks hair follicles, causing serious hair loss). The drug, called Litfulo, inhibits the pathway in the immune system that attacks the hair follicles. It helps to lower inflammation at the follicle and has shown significant hair regrowth—including scalp hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes—in patients who participated in clinical trials. It is the first FDA-approved treatment for kids and teens 12 and up. Recently, Litfulo also received approval from Health Canada and the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Categories: Teen Health

Poor diet quality during adolescence is linked to serious health risks

Teen Health 2 - Wed, 2023-12-13 11:35
Diet quality among adolescents in the United States is among the worst across all age groups, putting young people at risk for heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, among other cardiometabolic diseases later in life, according to a new study. The research used the Healthy Eating Index-2015 and medical testing to assess a group of youth aged 10-16 years.
Categories: Teen Health

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