From CADCA - Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America

Columbia University''s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse last week announced the results of its newest report National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XV: Teens and Parents.

CASA''s back-to-school survey exposes an alarming jump in gang violence and drug use in public middle and high schools in America. Based on CASA’s survey results, 27 percent of public schools are infiltrated with gangs and drugs, which equates to 5.7 million of 12 to 17 year olds who go to school every day where drugs and gangs are present.

According to the study, schools where gangs are present are twice as likely to experience issues with illegal drug use.

The study also found that compared to students at drug-free schools, students from gang- and drug-infected schools are:
• three times more likely to drink alcohol, Aug 26, 2010
• five times more likely to use marijuana,
• five times more likely to have a friend who uses illicit drugs—including acid, cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, or methamphetamine
• 12 times more likely to smoke cigarettes


CADCA Article here

View the entire study from Columbia University

According to Sue Scheff of the Broward County Parenting Teens Examiner in Florida, “Teens turn to sextortion - Blackmailing as a form or e-venge” – or just being mean.”

“As schools are opening and teachers, parents and administrators get ready for another school year,” says Scheff, “there is another form of bullying/cyberbullying developing. Sextortion. Teens blackmailing other teens for what they do online with less than flattering photos.”

Start the year off right by talking to your kids about the dangers of passing photos of any kind virtually. Digital pics from a phone can be manipulated and cropped into some very unflattering pictures. Help your teens understand the possible consequences.
No doubt, as Scheff says, "Communication is key to prevention."

Connect Safely.org recommends the following
Tips to prevent sexting that can lead to sextortion:

Don''t take or send nude or sexually suggestive photos of yourself or anyone else.
If you do, even if they''re of you or you pass along someone else's - you could be charged with producing or distributing child pornography. If you keep them on your phone or computer you could be charged with possession. If they go to someone in another state (and that happens really easily via cell phones and email), it''s a federal felony.

Then there''s the emotional (and reputation) damage that can come from having intimate photos of yourself go to a friend who can become an ex-friend and send it to everyone you know. Not only can they be sent around; they can be distributed and archived online for people to search pretty much forever, affecting getting in to college and future jobs.

Sexting can be done on any media-sharing device or technology - including email and the Web. Teens have been convicted for child porn distribution for emailing sexually explicit photos to each other.

Many causes.
In some cases, kids are responding to peer pressure in a form of cyberbullying or pressure from a boyfriend or girlfriend (they break up, and sometimes those photos get sent around out of revenge). Sometimes it''s impulsive behavior, flirting, or even blackmail.

We at Legacy remind parents that the prefrontal cortex responsible for impulse control is not fully developed in young people until 24 to 27 years old. Parents, impress upon your teens to stop, think and talk to YOU before ever sending a picture out of anger, jealousy, rage, or revenge.

The feelings may say DO IT, but you can help them calm down and see the dangerous consequences of acting upon those emotions. As ConnectSafely says, “It''s always a bad idea” to send sexually explicit or nude photos.

ConnectSafely encourages parents to talk with your kids about sexting in a relaxed setting.
Ask them what they know about it (they may not have heard the term, so "naked photo-sharing" works too). Express how you feel in a conversational, non-confrontational way. A two-way dialog can go a long way toward helping your kids understand how to minimize legal, social and reputation risks.

The bottom line: Stay alert when using digital media. People aren''t always who they seem to be, even in real life, and sometimes they change and do mean things. Critical thinking about what we upload as well as download is the best protection.

Check out ConnectSafely.org for more info.

As Sue Scheff says,
“Be an educated parent, you will have safer teens.”

Let LEGACY OF HOPE Assemblies awaken kids to How their brain works and healthy emotional coping skills