CHICAGO - Magazines popular with teenagers, such as Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated and People, tend to have more liquor and beer ads than other titles, suggesting the alcohol industry may be indirectly targeting underage drinkers, according to a study !"ids also read these magazines, and i# this is truly a public health concern, then we need to #ind ways to talk about decreasing adolescent e$posure to advertising,! said one o# the researchers, %r &raig 'ar#ield o# the (vanston )orthwestern *ealthcare Research Institute in the &hicago suburb o# (vanston, Ill +he researchers compared ,- magazines and #ound that #or every . million more readers ages ./ to .0, a magazine had about 12 percent more beer and distilled liquor ads !3e4re not in any way trying to suggest that they are doing this intentionally It simply may be worth it #or them to look a little more closely at their advertising strategies,! said another one o# the researchers, %r Paul &hung o# the medical school at the 5niversity o# &ali#ornia at 6os 7ngeles +he researchers said ma8or alcoholic beverage trade associations have codes o# conduct pledging to avoid marketing to teens +he researchers said that i# sel#-regulation by the industry is not enough, then maybe the government or an independent auditor needs to monitor the situation !3e always consider that stu## to be the last resort,! &hung said +he 9eer Institute, a trade association #or the malt beverage industry, said more regulation will not reduce underage drinking !+he strongest in#luences on young people are their parents and their peers,! the group said in a statement !Providing materials to parents : that the beer industry does in abundance : that allows them to talk about drinking with their kids, is the sort o# e##ective solution that this industry4s critics should embrace! Teen Tobacco Use General Facts )early all #irst use o# tobacco occurs be#ore high school graduation I# you can keep them #rom using tobacco when they are adolescents, most people will never start using tobacco &igarette smoking causes signi#icant health problems among children and adolescents including coughing, production o# phlegm, more respiratory illnesses, decreased physical #itness, risk #or cardiovascular disease, and decreased lung growth and #unction +he younger you begin to smoke, the more likely you are to be an adult smoker ;oung people who begin to smoke at an earlier age are more likely to develop long-term nicotine addiction than later starters Most young people who smoke regularly are already addicted to nicotine and e$perience the same addiction as adult smokers Most adolescent smokers report that they would like to quit smoking and have made many, usually unsuccess#ul attempts to quit +hose who try to quit smoking report withdrawal symptoms similar to those reported by adults 7dolescent tobacco users are more likely to use alcohol and illegal drugs than are nonusers &igarette smokers are also more likely to get into #ights, carry weapons, attempt suicide, and engage in high-risk se$ual behaviors ;oung people are the chie# source o# new consumers #or the tobacco industry, which, each year, must replace the many consumers who quit smoking and those who die #rom smoking-related diseases Tobacco use among mddle school students In .000, about .-< o# middle school students reported using some #orm o# tobacco =cigarettes, cigars, pipes> at least once in the past month &igarettes =0/<> were the most prevalent type o# tobacco used, #ollowed by cigars =1.<> &igarette smoking was similar among boys and girls, but boys were more likely than girls to use smokeless tobacco, smoke cigars, and smoke tobacco in a pipe Tobacco use among hgh school students ?ust over a quarter =/@-<> o# high school students smoke cigarettes currently according to the ;outh Risk 9ehavior Surveillance System =;R9SS> +een smoking apparently peaked in .00A at ,A< 7bout a third =,,@<> o# high school students have used some #orm o# tobacco =cigarettes, chewing tobacco or snu##, or cigars> at least once in the past month Bi#teen per cent o# middle school students currently use some #orm o# tobacco (very day, more than /,/22 young people under the age o# .@ become daily smokers In .000, about / in , =A2C<> high school students had tried cigarette smoking, even one or two pu##s 9y /22., that number had #allen to 1,0< In .000, about .A< o# high school students described themselves as #requent smokers, but that #ell to .C< in /22. Brequent smoking was de#ined as smoking on /2 o# the ,2 days be#ore the survey Is ths proo! smo"ng lo#ers your I$% Study suggests those on &' a day are less ntellgent Smoking has long been known to damage lungs and cause heart disease 9ut it could also lower your ID, research has #ound ;oung people who smoke regularly are likely to have markedly lower intelligence levels than those who do not smoke, and, according to the study o# /2,222 young adults, the heavier the smoker, the lower the ID +hose who smoke a pack or more o# cigarettes a day averaged an ID seven and a hal# points lower than that o# those who do not smoke 7 typical .@ to /.-year-old smoker was #ound to have an ID o# 0C, while non-smokers o# the same age averaged .2. +hose who smoked more than a pack a day had particularly low IDs o# around 02 7n average intelligence ID score ranges #rom @C to ..1 points &rucially, brothers scored di##erently depending on whether or not they smoked %espite similar environmental conditions, non- smoking siblings achieved higher IDs than their smoking brothers Alcoholsm 7lcoholism is a type o# drug addiction +here is both physical and psychological dependence with this addiction Physical dependence reveals itsel# by withdrawal symptoms when alcohol intake is interrupted, tolerance to the e##ects o# alcohol, and evidence o# alcohol- associated illnesses 7lcohol a##ects the central nervous system as a depressant, resulting in a decrease o# activity, an$iety, tension, and inhibitions (ven a #ew drinks can result in behavioral changes, a slowing in motor per#ormance, and a decrease in the ability to think clearly &oncentration and 8udgment become impaired In e$cessive amounts, into$ication may result 7lcohol also a##ects other body systems Irritation o# the gastrointestinal tract can occur leading to nausea and vomiting, and possibly even bleeding Eitamins are not absorbed properly, which can lead to nutritional de#iciencies with the long-term use o# alcohol 6iver disease, called alcoholic hepatitis, may also develop and can progress to cirrhosis +he heart may be a##ected Se$ual dys#unction can also occur, causing erectile dys#unction in men and cessation o# menstruation in women 7lcohol a##ects the nervous system and can result in neuropathy and dementia &hronic alcohol use also increases the risk o# cancer o# the laryn$, esophagus, liver, and colon +he social consequences o# problem drinking and alcohol dependence can be as serious as the medical problems People who abuse or are dependent on alcohol have a higher incidence o# unemployment, domestic violence, and problems with the law 7bout hal# o# all tra##ic #atalities are related to alcohol use 3ithdrawal develops because the brain has physically adapted to the presence o# alcohol and cannot #unction adequately in the absence o# the drug Symptoms o# withdrawal may include elevated temperature, increased blood pressure, rapid heart rate, restlessness, an$iety, psychosis, seizures, and rarely even death +here is no known common cause o# alcoholismF however, several #actors may play a role in its development 7 person who has an alcoholic parent is more likely to become an alcoholic than a person without alcoholism in the immediate #amily Research suggests that certain genes may increase the risk o# alcoholism but which genes or how they e$ert their in#luence is controversial Psychological #actors may include a need #or relie# o# an$iety, ongoing depression, unresolved con#lict within relationships, or low sel#-esteem Social #actors include availability o# alcohol, social acceptance o# the use o# alcohol, peer pressure, and stress#ul li#estyles Symptoms Some o# the symptoms associated with alcoholism includeG solitary drinking, making e$cuses to drink, need #or daily or #requent use o# alcohol #or adequate #unction, lack o# control over drinking, with inability to discontinue or reduce alcohol intake, episodes o# violence associated with drinking, secretive behavior to hide alcohol related behaviour, hostility when con#ronted about drinking, neglect o# #ood intake, neglect o# physical appearance, nausea and vomiting, shaking in the morning, abdominal pain, numbness, con#usion -------------------------------------------- Gamblng Addcton 'ambling, like se$, is an activity which is acceptable and #un It is also an area where the behavior can cross over and become compulsive, abnormal, and destructive 'ambling, like se$, can easily be ignored as an e$tremely common, pleasurable, and legal activity Many times, it is associated with trading or investing, and deemed as acceptable +he individual and his associates are quick to deny and reach #or the most convenient rationalization 9ut the behavior is a very high stakes game, where #riendships, #amily, #inance, and reputations are all at great risk 7lmost all gamblers are male 'ambling generally started early in teen years, and the individual is generally very bright, testing high on ID tests 'ambling conveys a sense o# euphoria, similar to a drug induced high 'enerally, very ego driven, controlling, risk taking, narcissistic, sociable, and, like the narcissist, in need o# approval, a##irmation, and con#irmation +hese individuals generally possess very low sel#-esteem, and have a tendency to bend the truth or lie +he gamblers o# this problem category proceed generally through #our phases o# 3inning =%ollars> - 6osing -%esperation - *opelessness &on#ronting an individual about problem behavior is di##icult and likely to e$cite denial, rationalization, or some brave words about manipulating the con#ronter into thinking the behavior will be modi#ied +ip-o##s to problems include some o# the #ollowingG &onstant use o# phone =unrelated to 8ob> Sports PagesHRacing Borms in view Bi$ated on sportsHracing 6ong lunchesH leaving work early 9orrowing money #rom everyone in sizable amountsH #requent requests #or advance pay 7nger and Isolation %e#ensive attitude Plays lottery and poker at any opportunity &hronic #atigue 7dditionally, overall behavior e$hibits the #ollowingG )eeds to gamble with increasing amounts o# money , like a drug addict needing higher doses *as repeated unsuccess#ul e##orts to control, cut back, or stop gambling Is an$ious and irritable when attempting to stop gambling, 8ust as other #orms o# addiction withdrawal symptoms 'ambles as a way o# escaping #rom problems or o# relieving #eelings o# helplessness, guilt, an$iety or depression or to escape physical pain I#ten returns to get even =!chasing! oneJs losses> a#ter losing money gambling %eludes and lies to others about his habits, even though it is completely transparent that there is a problem 9orrows #rom #riends and #amily and o#ten lies about the true cause o# the #inancial crisis &ommits illegal acts such as #orgery, #raud, the#t, or embezzlement to #inance gambling *as 8eopardized or lost a signi#icant relationship, 8ob, or educational or career opportunity because o# gambling Increases amount o# time spent gambling Beels shame, guilt and remorse a#ter gambling 9ecomes manipulative and controlling Makes e$cuses about whereabouts Poorly e$plained absences #rom home K work 6oses interest in regular activities, hobbies 3ithdraws #rom #amily and #riends &hanges in personalityG 7ngryF IrritableF &riticalF SarcasticF %epressedF 7rgumentative %enies gambling is a problem and will not discuss it even when con#ronted 9rags and lies about winnings and evasive about losses Smo"ers could lose one thrd o! ther e(eryday memory, #arn experts People who smoke could lose around one third o# their everyday memory, researchers say 7 study by a team at )orthumbria 5niversity has shown that smokers lose more o# their memory when compared to non-smokers 7nd the research also #ound that those who kicked the habit saw their ability to recollect in#ormation restored to almost the same level as non-smokers