“Which tobacco brand is increasing its cigarette sales among youngsters?”

            If you guessed Camel, you are correct. The use of Camel products has increased among teens ages 12-17 by 20% and 60% among young adults ages 18-25.Although Camel and Newport tobacco products have increased among these age groups, Marlboro is still the most popular.

             Although the use of Camel tobacco products has increased, overall cigarette use among teens has decreased.

            To decrease the use of Camel tobacco products the Food and Drug administration has advised a ban on menthol cigarettes, one of Camels most popular products. More than four in every five black teen smokers and over half of Hispanic teen’s smokers reportedly used menthol cigarettes.

            Camel has been known for its advertising tactics, from cleverly naming their cigarettes after perfume, so that women would be more apt to buy them to giving away free Chap Stick and purses.

            The government is taking a new approach to advertising in order to decrease the national smoking rate among teens and young adults. The government is now using explicit graphics of tobaccos devastating health consequences.

Reducing Underage Drinking

What Every Parent Can Do!

            Since Memorial Day weekend is approaching, I thought it would be appropriate to write and informational blog on what parents can do to prevent their child/children from drinking not only this weekend but also in the future.

            Underage Drinking prevention starts in the home. To begin with, make sure that your children know what you your expectations are regarding underage alcohol use. Secondly, refuse to serve alcohol to underage children in your home or on your property. Also, make sure that alcohol is not available at events that your children are attending, don’t be afraid to call the parents or the hosts of the party. Lastly, think about where alcohol is kept in your home; make sure it is out of reach of your children.

            Another simple way of reducing underage drinking is to be a role model and demonstrate what responsible and legal drinking looks like. Also create opportunities for your children to have friends in your home, this way you can monitor the activities that are taking place.

            Children are less likely to drink if their parents actively involved with their daily activities, if their parents support a positive lifestyle, and if the children feel a sense of responsibility to others, such as their parents, school, and sports.

           

Statistics

1. The median age at which children begin drinking is 15.7 years of age.
2. 48% of high school seniors say they consumed alcohol in the past 30 days.

Do you drink when you’re Angry?

          We all have our moments of feeling angry. How do you take out that anger? Do you go for a walk, meditate, take a nap, or succumb to alcohol? Research has proven a strong association between anger and drinking, especially for women.

          The psychologists at the University of North Caroline conducted a study using a group of thirty women, split into two groups. One group of women was purposely irritated, the other group remained relaxed. Both groups were asked to test an array of sodas and beers. The results showed that the women who were purposely irritated drank more beer then the group that remained relaxed.

          These results could be do to many reasons, one reason being that women are more likely to suppress their anger than men, leading them to find relief in a few glasses of wine or a couple of beers.

          In order to stop the habit of drinking due to anger, the first step is realizing that you are doing it. The next step is to learn how to control your anger and find healthier ways to cope with the anger such as exercise, write, or talking to a friend.

How to Be a Better Parent

As a parent actively preventing risky behavior lets your children know that you care. Parents have a powerful influence on the choices that their children make. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that teenagers who reported feeling close to their families were the least likely to engage in any risky behaviors. As parents you can teach your children to say no to drugs and risky social behavior.

Here are a few tips on how to become a better parent:

1.    Be a good listener: Ask them about their day, what their favorite type of music is , what their friends like to do after school.

2.    Steer talk to social problems: Don’t be afraid to discuss drugs, sex, drinking, and smoking. If you communicate with your child before they are faced with difficult decisions, they are more likely to make the right choices.

3.    Have weekly family meetings: Family meetings can be used to discuss accomplishments, complaints, projects, and any other topic of concern. During a family meeting every individual in attendance must get a chance to talk.

4. Get together with your children at set times: This will give each child personal time with you that they can count on. Try taking the long way home from school or even having a conversation while cleaning up after dinner or right before bedtime.

Joleene Speaks

        Joleene DesRosiers Moody commonly delivered local news to News 10 Now viewers. Moody radiated beauty and was always camera ready. Little did anyone know that behind all that beauty Moody kept a secret for two decades, she was battling bulimia. Her hopes were that by coming out with this lifelong secret that she could write and speak about her battle while helping others overcome their fears. Moody wrote two books called “Memoirs of Normalcy: Journey from Sedentary to Extraordinary” and “Twenty Six” which focuses on body image and the media. The over moral of her books is to tell an enriching story that will help others come to their own conclusions.

          Moody states that humans have two emotions: love and fear. Her goal is to teach people to ignore the fear and listen to themselves.” People aren’t so afraid of failure; they’re more afraid of blowing their own minds with what they can accomplish.” She wants individuals to go out and “Explore your world, love your life, and live with purpose.”