The primary focus of smoking cessation research has been adults in the past, but a new study zeroed in on adolescents. This study found that while there was no significant difference between the varenicline group and the placebo group at end of treatment, those in the varenicline group quit earlier in the trial and were less likely to relapse after the trial was over. And it encourages new treatments designs for adolescents.

Researchers at the World Health Organization (WHO) released the first global country-by-country report on teens’ physical activity in November. After surveying 1.6 million teens from 146 countries over 15 years, they found that 81 percent of teens did not meet the WHO recommendations of one hour of moderate to vigorous activity a day.

The WHO’s World Health Assembly no longer believes it will reach its goal of reducing teen inactivity by 15 percent globally by 2030. The researchers and public health experts are striving to inform teens about the importance of exercise for both mental and physical health. Research shows physical activity is linked to relieving symptoms of depression; lowering risk of cancer, disease, diabetes, and obesity; and living longer.

A new study suggests there is a two-way relationship between bullying perpetration and mental health problems among U.S. youth. Researchers report that bullying perpetration increased the risk of developing internalizing problems, and having internalizing problems increased the probability of bullying others. While previous research has focused on the causes and consequences of bullying victimization, this is the first study to comprehensively explore the time sequence between bullying perpetration and mental health problems.

Concussion, the most common form of traumatic brain injury, has been linked to an increased risk of depression and suicide in adults. Now new research suggests high school students with a history of sports-related concussions might be at an increased risk for suicide completion.

November is National Native American Heritage Month in the United States. During the month, the Library of Congress, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Museum, and more join in paying tribute to the rich ancestry and traditions of Native Americans.

The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs kicked-off ceremonies with keynote speaker Nick Hanson. Hanson is Inupiaq and from Unalakleet, Alaska. He appeared numerous times on the popular television show American Ninja Warrior, where he earned the nickname “Eskimo Ninja.” Through this platform, Hanson has become a motivational speaker, coach, and mentor, and is especially passionate about engaging today’s youth. With higher suicide rates among Native Americans and Alaska Native people, he has also made it his mission to raise awareness about suicide prevention. “I think that we really struggle a lot with identity,” Hanson said. “Being Alaska Native, I know exactly what it means to try to figure out who I am.” Hanson says rooting himself in his Alaska Native culture has helped set him on the right path.

Binge drinking among U.S. adolescents precipitously declined from 1991 to 2018, according to a new study. Depressive symptoms among U.S. adolescents have sharply increased since 2012. And for the first time in the past 40 years, binge drinking and depressive symptoms among adolescents are no longer associated.

Children who experience maltreatment, such as neglect or physical or sexual abuse, are more likely to engage in delinquent and offending behaviors in adolescence and young adulthood, according to a new study.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is focusing on vitamin E acetate as a “potential toxin of concern” in the recent outbreak of vaping-related injuries and illnesses in the United States. Vitamin E acetate, also known as vitamin E oil, is a common nutritional supplement that is found in many common products. It is safe when applied to your skin, but when it is heated and inhaled it turns into a thick, greasy substance that can coat your lungs. Health officials tested samples of fluid from the lungs of 29 patients with vaping illnesses and found vitamin E acetate in all 29 samples. However, officials say there may be additional ingredients or toxins that are making people sick. Nearly all of the 29 patients also said they had vaped products that contained THC (the ingredient in marijuana that gets people high).

Ideal heart health declines between ages 9 and 19 for girls, particularly for black girls and girls from families with lower education and income levels.

A new analysis of US data finds an unexpectedly high prevalence of prescription opioid use among youth. As recently as 2015-2016, 21% of adolescents and 32% of young adults said they had used these drugs in the past year. Nearly 4 percent and 8 percent, respectively, reported misusing opioids.

Eighth grader Kara Fan, a 14-year-old from California, is America’s new top young scientist. She won the top prize of $25,000 over nine other finalists in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge—a national competition held annually in St. Paul, Minnesota. The competition encourages middle schoolers to come up with projects to tackle global problems.

For two days, students worked one-on-one with world-renowned scientists. The 10 finalists then presented their projects to 3M and Discovery Education executives. Fan received the top prize for her invention of a nano particle liquid bandage to replace antibiotics. After learning she had won, Fan stated, “My project is important because it reduces the overuse of antibiotics.” The more exposure bacteria have had to antibiotics, the more their resistance has grown. This leads to superbugs, which make people very sick and are resistant to all but the most powerful antibiotics.

A new study shows how a parent's use of marijuana, past or present, can influence their child's substance use and well-being.

Teens who vape candy- or fruit-flavored e-cigarettes are more likely to stick with the habit and vape more heavily.

Researchers have developed a simple, low-cost way to predict preeclampsia, a potentially deadly condition that kills 76,000 mothers and 500,000 babies every year.

New research found that the amount of time spent on social media is not directly increasing anxiety or depression in teenagers.

Adolescents who play contact sports, including football, are no more likely to experience cognitive impairment, depression or suicidal thoughts in early adulthood than their peers, suggests a new study of nearly 11,000 youth followed for 14 years.

EVALI, which stands for electronic cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury, is the official name for the lung condition impacting vapers according to a guidance published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The guidance document is intended to help doctors evaluate someone that may have EVALI and provide details on how to manage their condition.

As of mid-October, officials identified 1,299 probable and confirmed cases of EVALI across 49 states. The CDC also reported that 573 patients from these cases had used vaping products containing nicotine and/or THC products within 90 days of forming symptoms. The stats have also been further broken down to the age of patients. At least 80 percent of EVALI patients are under the age of 35. Of these patients, 15 percent are minors and 21 percent are 18 to 20 years old.

Three simple factors that predict whether a healthy weight child will be overweight or obese by adolescence have been revealed in a new study.

Throughout life, women's fertility curve goes up and down, and researchers have now shown why. The results might have impact on fertility counseling and in the longer term for treatment of infertility.

People with low scores on intelligence tests in adolescence run a higher risk of suicide and suicide attempt later in life. That is according to a study that followed almost 50,000 Swedish men from the 1970s until recently.