Therapist Unlimited Blog

Researchers have found new evidence showing that parents play a key role in whether or not their adolescent children who experiment with tobacco progress to become daily smokers before they graduate from high school.
A study published on-line and in the September issue of journal Pediatrics shows that parents can be a positive or negative influence on their children’s future smoking habit.
"If parents really don’t want their children to smoke they need to communicate that by establishing clear guidelines in their families about not smoking and discuss them with their school-age children." said Min Jung Kim, a research scientist with the University of Washington’s Social Development Research Group and lead author of the study.
At the same time, parents can increase their children’s chances of smoking by their own use of tobacco.
"If parents smoke, teens have more access to cigarettes than teens who have non-smoking parents. A second preventive measure for smoking parents is to quit smoking themselves," said Kim.
The study included 270 adolescents who had begun smoking by the eighth grade but had not advanced to daily smoking at that time.
Daily smoking was defined as smoking one cigarette a day for the past 30 days prior to annual interviews. By the time the students were in the 12th grade, 156, or 58 percent, had become daily smokers.
The children in the study were 51 percent male and 85 percent white. They were drawn from a larger study looking at the development of healthy and problem behaviours among children at 10 suburban schools in the Pacific Northwest. Information about their smoking habits was collected during annual interviews from the seventh through 12th grades.
Aside from parenting and parental tobacco use, other factors that predicted teen smoking were having friends who smoked and involvement in other problems behaviours such as skipping school, getting into fights and engaging in vandalism.

Kim said most smoking prevention programs to not directly address the role of parental smoking or the link between anti-social behaviour and smoking, which commonly occur together.
"Parents need to know that they are still important and can make their children feel good when they do something right and also know that there are consequences when they do something wrong. Many parents think adolescence is the time for children to have their independence. But it is important to maintain good supervision of your teen. Parents who smoke also need to understand that they are modeling behavior and if they quit smoking they send a strong message to their teenager," said Kim.
She recommends that parents "should not ignore children’s experimental smoking at any age because it put them at great risk of progressing to daily smoking." To do that, parents should:
    * Set and enforce clear guideline about tobacco.
    * Monitor to ensure that your children are following your guidelines.
    * Know and monitor your children’s friends.
    * Provide clear, consistent and positive consequences for following those guidelines and appropriate, consistent negative consequences for violating them.

According to a latest research the culture and environment makes the US Navy sailors at risk of being addicted to drinking.
Based on the study conducted which was published at the Journal of Mixed Methods Research, many factors contribute to the rise of drinking addiction in the US Navy.
Some of the factors cited in the study were the youth of recruits, alternating periods of exertion and boredom, and a culture that emphasizes drinking as a mechanism for bonding, recreation, and stress relief.
The researchers get the data, though the use of the statistical analysis of survey data as well as an analysis of interviews and observations on bases, ships and submarines.

US Navy sailors are prone to drinking addiction due to culture and environment of the place.

The people behind the study explained they conducted the study to determine the drinking problems happening in the US Navy so that they can map out solutions into it.
It is hoped that the report should serve as warning to Navy personnel to be more vigilant in their work and workplace so that they would not end up suffering from drinking addiction.

Those people who are marijuana addicts better stop their unhealthy activity now of face strong chances of suffering from cancer.
According to the result of a new research, “convincing evidence" has shown that marijuana smoke damages the genetic material DNA in ways that could increase the risk of cancer.
Based on the study made by Rajinder Singh and his team, they also found out that toxic substances in tobacco smoke could damage DNA and increase the risk of lung and other cancers.
Despite the data they gathered, Singth and his team are still uncertain over whether marijuana smoke has the same effect.
Singh and the other researchers are currently concerned on the toxicity of acetaldehyde, present in both tobacco and marijuana.

Constant marijuana users better stop the habit now or face risk of suffering from cancer.

The researchers however admitted it is difficult to measure DNA damage from acetaldehyde with conventional tests.
The researchers added the development and use of a modified mass spectrometry method that showed clear indications that marijuana smoke damages DNA.
Moreover, the researchers explained the results provide evidence for the DNA damaging potential of cannabis [marijuana] smoke, implying that the consumption of cannabis cigarettes may be detrimental to human health with the possibility to initiate cancer development.
The team revealed the data obtained from this study suggesting the DNA damaging potential of cannabis smoke highlight the need for stringent regulation of the consumption of cannabis cigarettes, thus limiting the development of adverse health effects such as cancer.
The team said the finding is an indication that marijuana should be avoided and to be stopped for those who are addicted to it since it can also lead to cancer.

The strong chances that they will have beer bellies and man boobs lead many men across the globe to stop their drinking addiction.
In the recent study conducted by Know Your Limits campaign it was discovered that more than one in three men (37%) have claimed that they would reduce their drinking to reduce the number of calories they consume.
Based on the survey conducted on 1,000 male drinkers over 18 in England it was also discovered that one in six men (17%) are worried their drinking will lead to man boobs.
The same survey also showed that one in four men or (27%) are worried about getting a beer belly.
The survey also revealed that more than one in eight men or (13%) think their boozing is affecting their appearance.

Those men who do want to have beer bellies and man boobs better stop your drinking habit now.

Furthermore, it was also discovered that nearly one in ten men or (9%) worry that excessive drinking is affecting their sexual performance.
The medical experts advised that in order to avoid chances of getting fat because of drinking just limit your drink to only three to four glasses everyday.
On the other hand, health officials in England hoped the survey would encourage regular drinkers to kick the habit for good only because of its possible effects on their physical appearance but more importantly on its impact on their health.
The health officials said if the urge in drinking could not be stopped, it would help if drinkers do it in a minimal level.

According to a latest study mothers who are brave enough to admit they are formerly hooked on illegal drugs can achieve good results in their action.
Based on the research conducted by the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada some 3,530 Alberta youth Grades 7 to 12 revealed that teens were more likely to use drugs if they knew that their mothers had used drugs but did not pressure their kids to avoid the illegal practice.
Researcher Lori Harach, a professor of human ecology at the University of Alberta revealed the findings suggest that adolescents might benefit from parental talks about the dangers of drug use, especially when their mothers have experience with drugs.
Harach said factor might give extra credibility to the messaging in the eyes of the teen.
She said mothers who have previous illegal drugs experience should not hide their unfavourable past since opening it could their children valuable lesson to avoid using illegal drugs.
As the saying goes, the best testimony is your own experience.
Mothers around the world should keep in mind that their children would not scorn them if ever they admit using drugs since their children love them deadly.
Instead of being scorned, their children would love them more and will keep away from the things that put their mother in the bad light in the past.

To keep their children away from drug addiction, mothers should be bold enough to admit they are using drugs in the past.

According to a latest research, a huge number of American teenagers are suffering from video games addiction.
Based on the study conducted by Dr. Douglas Gentile, Assistant Professor in Psychology at the Iowa State University it was uncovered that 10 percent of teenagers in the United States are hooked on video games addiction.
Gentile said video games addiction is defined as a pathological disorder that has already affected the normal activity of the involved teenager by engaging in long hours of video games.
He said their study was in accordance to the January 2007 Harris Poll survey of 1,178 randomly selected American youths aged from eight to 18.
The medical expert said according to the said study 8.5 per cent of the survey respondents were showing symptoms that would be classified by the manual as pathological if they had been gambling instead of playing video games.
The behaviour is classed as pathological if it exhibits at least six of 11 symptoms.

A latest study has revealed that 10 percent of American teens are hooked on video games addiction.

The researcher said he was surprised to discover that many youngsters were showing pathological symptoms of video game playing.
Gentile revealed he started to actively study video games addiction way back in 1999 thinking that there is no such kind of medical condition.
Back then, Gentile thought parents called it "addiction" because they just did not understand why their kids played video games so much.
He said that with the result of the research he found out that there is indeed a form of video games and addiction and more research are needed to uncover it further.
Furthermore, Gentile said many disorders are part of a complex pattern with other disorders and illnesses.
For example, pathological video gaming could be a symptom of depression, so it is important to understand the underlying patterns in order to treat them.
He said parents should closely monitor their kids to keep them away from playing too much video game, which could greatly affect their health.

Here is a piece of good news to parents around the world.
A latest study has revealed that children who have a great relationship with their parents have less chances of suffering from alcohol addiction.
In a research published at the Journal of Studies on Alcohol, and Drugs it was discovered that children who have close with their parents refrain themselves from the drinking habit and just drink alcohol in moderation when they are already adult.
According to Dr. Emmanuel Kuntsche, of the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems in Lausanne, Switzerland and lead author of the study revealed most often those children who started drinking early have higher tendencies of becoming an alcohol addict than those who take up the drinking habit when they already adult.
Kuntsche said parents who have close ties with their children can also offer sound advices for them to keep away from drinking at a young age.
He said the finding was based on the study they conducted on 364 teenagers they have surveyed over two years.
The lead researcher explained those children who refrain from drinking at a young age positively gain from having great relationship with their parents since they were able to discuss their problems with them and that their parents respected their feelings.

Parents need to exert effort to forge a smooth relationship with their children to keep them away from alcohol addiction.

Kuntsche said the study has also clearly shown that having close relationship with their parents could lower the risk of alcohol problems.
The medical expert urged parents to exert efforts to have a great relationship with their children so that both can freely discuss whatever problems and keep away their children from alcohol and other vices.
He said the young generation is considered as the hope of this planet so parents should make sure these people achieve their full potential by keeping them away from vices through having a smooth relationship with their children.

Porn addiction is a problem shared by many men and women today.
This problem deals on someone who has looked at porn excessively and inordinate amounts that sometimes results in lost jobs, failed marriages, and destroyed families.
Whether the motive for consuming pornography is sexual appetite, escape/self-medication, or any other reason, engaging in these addictions causes the brain and body to endogenously produce and release chemical drugs into its own system. These chemicals include: epinephrine (an adrenal gland hormone that "locks-in" memories of experiences occurring at times of high arousal), adrenaline, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), noradrenaline, norepinephrine and testosterone, among others. This drug is dragging millions of troubled victims along in its destructive wake.
Persistent accessing of porn not only provides the addict with sexual arousal, but offers a way to self-medicate in order to escape the realities of life. A porn addict will suffer withdrawal symptoms when they try-or are compelled-to relinquish their vice for any length of time. The withdrawal symptoms may drive an addict to find porn and often causes him to act out his needs in inappropriate ways.
But no need to worry a veteran family counsellor has offered crying as solution to this dilemma.
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach says guys and gals who watch porn need to cry a little more.
Shmuley says porn addicts are also addicted to sex and sports which makes them numb from the pressures of life.
He said the best way to resolve porn addiction is to teach men and women how to cry since crying makes them realized that they are still human beings who have emotions.
 "No one cares about a man’s heart, and he becomes depressed, so they use sex to dull the pain. Men don’t want to feel or show emotion unless it’s through sports. Men need to learn to not be afraid to cry, that’s what it’s about,"Shmuley said.

An expert said porn addiction can be resolve through crying.

The problem on addiction especially the most common ones namely alcohol and illegal drugs goes beyond the physical aspect but also the global economy as well.
Aside from the economic crisis, nations around the world are coping up on the huge impact of the problem of addiction on their respective economy.
Any form of addiction is considered a global economic problem since the addicted person like those hooked on illegal drugs and liquor would usually spend their money on these substances instead of using it to other more important needs like food and shelter.
Persons who are addicted to something are also usually not focus on their job due to their medical problem, which would eventually result in job termination.

Addiction is now considered a global economic problem.

If a particular country has a huge number of addicts, there is a big tendency that its unemployment rate is also high.
Most drug and alcohol addicts also love to spend huge amount of their money to vices which would lead to financial problem in the future that affects not only the person involve but also his or her family as well.
Addicted persons are also prone to sickness due to their unhealthy lifestyle, which would often result to hospitalization that involves substantial expenses.
Hospitalization would be no problem for those who are rich but the poor medication means financial burden for them.
Those addicts who will be arrested for using or promoting illegal drugs will also have to spend money for posting bail, hiring their lawyer and daily litigation of their cases.
Furthermore, addicts who wish to reform from their illegal activity will also have to allocate money for their rehabilitation.
Indeed, with the scenarios narrated above there is no doubt that addiction is now a global economic problem.
Being a global economic problem, those addicts in the different parts of this planet should immediately stop their illegal activity not only health wise but financial as well.
In the wake of the slowing down of the global economy, putting a stop to addiction is not only correct health wise but also economical as well.

A recent study revealed that children who spend long hours in video games are at risk of suffering injury.
According to medical experts, children who are video games addicts could suffer injury in their thumb and other parts of their body if their unabated passion for this type of activity would be reduced or stopped.
Medical experts added children hooked in video games are also at risk of facing years of agony from bad posture and repetitive strain injury (RSI).
With millions of children hooked on video games worldwide, experts fear that many of them could suffer long and short-term injury because of their activity.
The medical physicians explained the repeated physical movements associated in connection with long hours of video games playing could damage the tendon, nerves and muscles of children.
It was also reported that in Great Britain where countless of children are hooked into video games more than 100,000 new medical cases are being reported each year.
The alarming statistics drove the British government to do some measures to solve the video games addiction among their young populace.
Video games addiction had already become a global problem so governments around the world like the British should exert effort to closely monitor this activity.
Playing video games is not very bad since it is a form of entertainment but in doing so the one playing should just be responsible since "too much of everything is bad".
The parents of children hooked on video games should also be vigilant to closely monitor them so that their health would not be affected by this kind of activity.

Parents should prohibit their children from playing long hours of video games since this activity can be deadly to their health.