Life Skills Education

Archive for the ‘General’ Category

More than half of young people who have drunk alcohol are usually given it by their parents, a new study shows.

By Caroline Gammell

Less than a fifth of parents – 17 per cent – said they had thought about what they would do if their child drank too much, while 80 per cent said they would “deal with it when it happens”.

One in 10 parents said did not know that their child drank, while a quarter of young people said their parents had never talked to them about alcohol.

The study of 4,000 parents and young people was commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families as part of a Government crackdown on underage drinking.

Schools minister Vernon Coaker said parents should be more open with their children as he launched the Why Let Drink Decide? campaign at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

“The research shows that parents underestimate their influence over their child’s drinking and attitudes to alcohol,” he said.

“Yet a quarter of young people have never spoken to their parents about the issue.”

The campaign includes a drive to keep young people away from alcohol by involving them in football clubs and football tournaments.

Mr Coaker defended football as a good diversion for young people, despite the recent antics of high profile footballers such as John Terry.

“Notwithstanding one or two cases, football has moved from a culture of drinking a few years ago to one where that is not the case.

“There is much more emphasis on the whole business of fitness.”

Martin Keown, former England and Arsenal player, added: “I was playing in the early 80s where if you didn’t drink you were in the minority.

“It is a very different environment now, there really has been a massive change among the players.”

Mr Coaker said there were less young people drinking now, but those who did drank more.

Of the 10,000 young people admitted to hospital each year because of alcohol, 6,000 are under the age of 15.

As part of the Why Let Drink Decide? Campaign, adverts showing the risks of drinking alcohol will be shown in cinemas nationwide.

Local authorities will be handed “good practice guides” to help them work with other services, such as the police, to stop under-age drinking from becoming a problem in their area.

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The alcohol industry is failing to comply with a voluntary agreement to place health warnings on alcoholic drinks, says the government.

Just 15% of drinks provide enough information about units and health risks, a report found.

England’s Department of Health says it will consider mandatory labelling if voluntary agreements fail.

Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said progress was “very disappointing” despite efforts from some brands.

She added: “Whilst there should be no need to bring in legislation when the industry can clearly sort it out themselves, we will not hesitate to act decisively if industry does not deliver.

“I expect to see much more leadership from more of the major producers.

“We know that too many are drinking at harmful levels and producers should play their part in helping to stem this tide by ensuring we all have access to clear and consistent health information on labels.”

The Scottish Government, along with the other devolved administrations, has launched a similar consultation on alcohol labelling.

Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said that if compliance with the existing voluntary code did not improve, then mandatory labelling would be a strong option.

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Supermarkets are offering more discounts on alcohol despite calls to end special deals.

By Myra Butterworth, Personal Finance Correspondent

The latest statistics reveal a quarter of the all beer sold online at Tesco, Asda, Ocado and Sainsburys was on offer last month, up seven per cent on the same period a year ago. Increases were also seen on the sale of spirits and wine.

Chief medical officers are calling for minimum prices per unit of alcohol, warning lower prices are linked to greater alcohol-related health problems.

Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said: “Supermarkets pretend to champion the consumer and yet their alcohol price discounting has led to a direct rise in alcohol related health harms and costs to the NHS and police.

“When will the supermarkets realise their use of alcohol as a loss leader is ruining the health of this country and leading to more crime and disorder?”

And Dr Chris Record, a liver disease consultant based in Newcastle, said: “The problem is that alcohol prices have been falling and is now much more affordable than it was a couple of decades ago. And if you reduce the price of alcohol suddenly, consumption goes up.”

The figures from MySupermarket suggested the amount of red and white wine sold with a discount has doubled in the past year from 7 per cent to 14 per cent. Spirits sold with a discount have also increased from 5 per cent to 8 per cent.

But retailers insisted lower prices did not encourage irresponsible drinking and were about offering the best value to shoppers.

Richard Dodd, of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retailers are simply competing to offer customers value. They shouldn’t be criticised for doing that.

“Irresponsible drinking is not about price. It’s about culture. We already have some of the highest alcohol taxes in Europe. Banning discounts or forcing up prices won’t make a difference. Changing attitudes will and that’s what retailers are engaged in.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “We will continue to look at how we can tackle the problems caused by cheap alcohol.

“We will consider this within a framework which respects the rights of responsible consumers while making a real difference to the types of excessive drinking that damage individuals and families and are a cost to our society.”

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 A plan to halve the number of smokers in England over the next 10 years has been unveiled by ministers.

 The number of people smoking has fallen by a quarter in the past decade to 21%, and the proposed target is 10% by 2020.

Measures being considered include removing branding from packets and banning cigarette vending machines, as will happen in Scotland next year.

Smokers’ lobby group Forest criticised the proposals for eroding people’s ability to make lifestyle choices.

Health charity Ash said that while it supported the plans in principle, there was a need for more detail and stronger pledges.

The government strategy includes a commitment to try to stop young people taking up smoking by cracking down on illegally imported cheap cigarettes.

Every smoker will be able to get help from the NHS to suit them if they want to give up.

And there will be a review of smoking legislation, which could see public bans extended to places such as the entrances of buildings.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: “We’ve come so far and now we’ll go even further, to push forward and save even more lives.

“This strategy renews our commitment to virtually eradicate the health harms caused by smoking, and I firmly believe we can halve smoking by 2020. In 10 years’ time, only one-in-10 people will smoke.”

He added: “We will always help people to quit, and smokers should never stop trying. That’s the beauty of the NHS – it’s there to help everyone.

“One day, in the not too distant future, we’ll look back and find it hard to remember why anyone ever smoked in the first place.”

‘Devastating impact’

The government said each year smoking caused 80,000 deaths and cost the NHS £2.7bn.

Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson said the strategy would “discourage children from taking up smoking and prevent a great number of unnecessary and early deaths”.

The smoking ban in enclosed public places was introduced in Scotland in 2006, and in England, Wales and Northern Ireland separately in 2007.

Forest said the ban had had a “devastating impact” on community pubs and further restrictions would accelerate that trend.

Simon Clark, director of the lobby group, said adults should be allowed to make an “informed choice”.

He said: “When the government starts setting targets it is rather dangerous because the only way they can reach targets is to introduce very illiberal, very draconian legislation.

“What we are seeing is a campaign of de-normalisation – I think it is creating a very intolerant, very divisive society.”

Professor Alan Maryon-Davis, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, said: “It’s good the government intends to keep up the pressure on smoking, the biggest single cause of ill-health and inequalities in health.

“But we do need to see these good intentions backed up by sustained investment in effective strategies.”

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Children as young as 11 are drinking two bottles of wine a week – more than the recommended limit for an adult woman – official figures reveal.

By Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor

Children in the north of the country drink and smoke more than those in the south, data from the NHS Information Centre has found.

In particular, girls aged between 11 and 15 in the Midlands and the North are drinking more than the recommended limits for adult women.

They are consuming around a bottle and a half of wine a week.

Adult women are advised not to drink more than two to three units a day (or up to 14 units a week) and men not more than three to four (or up to 21 units a week) with two alcohol free days a week.

Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, said last year that parents should not let their children drink alcohol at all.

More than one in four girls in the North East had a drink in the past week and on average consumed 15.5 units. Girls in the East Midlands, North West and Yorkshire and Humber drank similar amounts.

The pattern was less clear for boys but in general those in the Midlands and the North were more likely to have drunk in the last week than those in the south and to have consumed more.

More than one in four boys in the North East had a drink in the last week and on average drank 20.2 units, the equivalent of eight and a half pints of strong lager or more than two bottles of wine.

Boys and girls in London were the least likely to drink and average consumption of those who did was also lower.

The data, based on surveys of over 23,000 children in England, showed boys drank more than girls in almost all regions.

It is the first time that alcohol consumption for children aged 11 to 15 has been calculated by region.

Previous studies have shown that fewer children are drinking alcohol but those who do consume large amounts.

On smoking children in the north of the country were more likely to have smoked a cigarette in the last year than those in the south and were more likely to smoke regularly.

Children in all of the regions were less likely to have tried drugs than cigarettes or alcohol.

A fifth of 11 to 15 year olds in the North West had taken drugs in the last year compared with around one in seven in the South West.

One in eight children in the North West said they had taken cannabis in the last year compared with one in 12 in the North East.

Tim Straughan, Chief executive of The NHS Information Centre, said: “The report shows there are significant regional differences in the percentages of young people who smoke, drink or use drugs.

“It is interesting to note that London has such comparatively low levels of drink, drug and alcohol use among its 11 to 15-year-olds.

“In contrast, youngsters in the North East are more likely than their peers anywhere else in the country to smoke and drink alcohol. However, they are the least likely to take cannabis.”

Don Shenker, Chief Executive of Alcohol Concern, said: “Today’s figures are very worrying. We’ve seeing a slight decline in the number of children who drink, but those who do drink are drinking much more.

“Too many young people are now drinking at or above safe adult levels, yet their bodies are less able to cope with the harm alcohol can cause.

“We’ve already seen an almost one thousand per cent increase in liver cirrhosis deaths in the 25-44 age group. This is impacting our health services and the lives of families across the UK.”

He said the government must heed advice and opt for minimum pricing of alcohol which would mean it could not be bought at pocket money prices.

Professor Ian Gilmore, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Chairman of the UK Alcohol Health Alliance said: “These figures indicate that for many young teenagers drinking has moved beyond experimentation and into far more dangerous territory.

“Regular consumption at these levels, especially when compressed into heavy sessions at the weekend puts boys and girls at considerable risk.

“At this age the adolescent mind is still developing, and for an unlucky minority heavy drinking so early will have profound and long lasting implications for their learning and problem solving skills. Tougher penalties for those found to be selling alcohol to youngsters are welcome, but parents and families also have a responsibility to help their offspring make healthy choices.”

Children’s Minister Dawn Primarolo said: “I am pleased that these statistics show a decline in the number of young people smoking, drinking alcohol and taking drugs.

“The Government has been committed to providing young people with the right advice and support they need to make safe and sensible decisions. Importantly we have given parents, carers and schools additional guidance and expert advice so that young people can turn to a trusted adult to discuss their concerns about smoking, drinking and drugs.”

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Children as young as 12 are turning up at school under the influence of a “legal high” drug, teachers and health workers have warned.

Teachers have reported a dramatic surge in the number of children showing signs of taking “meow meow” – or mephedrone – before attending lessons.

The drug, which is sold as fertilliser on the internet and can be bought for as little as £3, is believed to have similar effects to ecstasy.

But health workers and police warn that it causes severe side-effects, including convulsions, hallucinations, nosebleeds, headaches and breathing problems.

Teachers towns and cities, including Brighton, Durham, Harrogate and York, are now being given emergency training in spotting signs of the drug.

The dangers of “meow meow” and other legal highs is also being added to lessons in personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) in some areas.

The move comes just months after the drug was linked to the death of schoolgirl Gabrielle Price in Worthing, West Sussex. The 14-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest and died in hospital after taking a suspected cocktail of drugs including mephedrone.

This week, a teenager is also believed to have died at a house party after experimenting with the drug for the first time. The body of the 18-year-old was found at a flat in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, on Tuesday.

In Brighton, it was reported that children as young as 12 and 13 are taking the drug on school buses.

Sam Beal, healthy schools team leader for Brighton City Council, told the Times Educational Supplement that increasing numbers of pupils “started using ‘meow meow’ at the end of last summer and we have big concerns about this”.

“Teachers hear about this more and more and they are concerned that the drugs are being brought into schools,” he said.

Sgt Geoff Crocker, from North Yorkshire Police, based in Harrogate, said: “It’s easily available and cheap and we’ve seen enterprising pupils start selling it in school.”

Darren Archer, manager of the County Durham drugs and alcohol action team, told the TES: “We’ve mostly seen it as part of a risk-taking culture among young people, particularly in colleges.”

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 Education programs and intervention efforts aimed at teenagers often seek to eliminate immediate consequences by helping them make responsible choices about alcohol and drugs. One of the many areas requiring attention is keeping kids from immediate dangers, such as driving while intoxicated.

As teens are educated, however, it is also critical for those designing programs to understand how early drinking decisions affect young people in later life. Recently a study by Hingson, Heeren and Edwards explored these ongoing effects.

The researchers looked at people who had ever consumed alcohol to see whether an early age at the time of drinking onset and dependence then predicted drug use and dependence.

The study also looked at whether driving decisions were affected. The researchers wanted to explore whether drinkers who have used drugs have predictable patterns in behaviors relating to driving under the influence of drugs and motor-vehicle crash involvement because of drugs.

The study employed a United States national sample of 42,867 persons aged 18 and older. The participants were surveyed in 1991 to 1992. The researchers used logistic regression analysis to examine the associations between those who had ever consumed alcohol. There were numerous controls used for demographics and personal characteristics.

The results of the study showed that among participants that had ever consumed alcohol, 22 percent used drugs, 10 percent had driven under the influence of drugs, and nearly 1 percent had been in a motor-vehicle crash because of drug use, which is the equivalent of one million people.

The younger the age of the respondents when they began to drink and whether they had experienced alcohol dependence were associated with greater odds of having used drugs and experiencing drug dependence.

For those who had used both alcohol and drugs, having experienced drug dependence was the most significant predictor of driving under the influence of drugs and involvement in an automobile accident because of drug use.

The study has several implications for education and intervention programs. Programs to reduce drug-related automobile accidents needs to incorporate drug use prevention and treatment. There should also be attention given to prevention of early alcohol use and treatment for alcohol dependence.

The study provides important information for those educating and preventing alcohol and drug use and dependence. An early introduction to alcohol and drug use can have long-term effects in predicting other behaviors relating to alcohol and drugs.

Article taken from Drug Addiction Treatment

Parents should not give children alcohol in the hope that it will breed a responsible attitude to drinking, Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, has warned.

By Kate Devlin, Medical Correspondent

Exposure to alcohol at a young age is actually more likely to make them heavy or binge drinkers, he said.

Parents with a “laissez-faire” attitude to their teenager’s drinking are also putting their offspring at risk, he warned, as he called for a culture shift from the image of the drinker as a hero.

Sir Liam made his comments as he launched new guidelines on children’s drinking for parents, in which he called for youngsters to have an alcohol-free childhood.

Children under the age of 15 should not drink any alcohol at all, the report advises.

Older teenagers between 15 and 17 should be supervised by their parents if they are drinking, and should limit alcohol intake to one day a week.

Parents can set an good example by drink any alcohol at home only in a “positive” setting, such as a family meal, according to the guidelines.

Sir Liam said that the notion that introducing children to small amounts of alcohol at a young age would teach them to drink responsibly had become a “middle class obsession” in recent years.

“(That) if you somehow wean children on to alcohol at an early age they won’t have any problems in later life, (that) they will be sensible – is not supported by evidence,” he said.

“It’s a bit of a middle-class obsession – the idea of taking out the wine bottle and diluting it.

“There’s not a great problem to that as such but to extrapolate from that sort of situation that alcohol in general is a good thing just does not work.”

He added: “Alcohol has a ruinous effect on the foundations of adult life.

“We see the tyranny of alcohol on our towns and city centres.

“Too often childhood is robbed of its clear-eyed innocence and replaced with the befuddled futility that comes with the consumption of dirt cheap alcohol.”

Evidence shows that children who are introduced to alcohol at a young age are more likely to binge drink as teenagers and to develop alcohol-related problems in later life.

Official figures show that half a million 11 to 15 year olds in England admit they have been drunk in the last month.

And every year around 7,600 11 to 17-year-olds are admitted to hospital because of alcohol.

Sir Liam warned that there was evidence that alcohol harmed children’s’ developing brains.

Drinking can lead to depression, subtle brain damage, long-term memory problems, difficulty remembering words and mental health problems, he said.

Physical problems include damage to the liver, reduced levels of growth hormones and a lower bone density in boys.

In recent years doctors have warned that a binge-drinking culture is leading to young women in their twenties being diagnosed with alcohol-related conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver, unheard of a decade ago.

Sir Liam insisted that his report was merely advice and that there were no plans to change the law.

At the moment parents are legally allowed to give children alcohol in their own home from the age of five…

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The genetic code of two of the most deadly cancers has been cracked by British scientists in a world first that opens up a whole new era in the treatment for the disease.

By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent

 
All the mutations that turn healthy cells cancerous in both lung and skin tumours have been identified in what researchers described as a “transforming moment” in the search for preventions, treatments and cures for both terminal illnesses.

Such a detailed picture of the fundamental causes of the disease will lead to earlier detection, new breeds of drugs and better understanding of what causes the disease, they claim.

Eventually a simple blood test will lead to accurate “made to measure” treatments that can identify, attack and kill the causes of each patient’s own individual cancer, they claim.

Professor Mike Stratton, of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, a world leading research centre in Cambridge who carried the studies, said: “What you are seeing today is going to transform the way that we see cancer.

“This is a really fundamental moment in the history of cancer research.”

All cancers are caused by damage or mutations to the DNA of formerly healthy cells acquired during a person’s lifetime.

This damage causes them to grow into abnormal lumps or tumours and spread around the body disrupting its normal processes and eventually – if unchecked – causing death.

In lung cancer the damage is almost entirely caused by smoking and in skin cancer or malignant melanoma by ultra violent sunlight…

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Forty-seven children from Chetwynd Road Primary School in Beeston, Notts, have dared to say “No” to illegal drugs and anti-social behaviour.

They have all graduated with honours from the programme run at the school by the anti-drugs education charity DARE and were presented with certificates at a special ceremony at the school. .

The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Broxtowe, Coun. John Longdon and included original poetry and drama from the graduates, as well as a lively performance of the DARE song and an appearance by the life-size DARE lion.

Dare UK is a National Charity which delivers life skills and drugs education to youngsters aged nine to 16.

It was brought to the UK in Nottinghamshire 16 years ago and is popular in more than 280 of the county’s schools.

DARE programmes are delivered by serving or retired police officers and teaching staff.

The successful DARE message is now being taken up by schools in other East Midlands counties and is being introduced in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire.

Coun. Longdon said: “Dare is absolutely brilliant and it has the support of the council. It gives children who are about to go to secondary school the self-awareness and confidence to say no to the temptations and dangers they may face.”

Chetwynd Road Primary School’s head teacher, Graeme Robins said: “Dare is an essential part of our curriculum and contributes to the all-round education of our children. It helps them to make the right decisions to choose a healthy lifestyle.”

The DARE officer who delivered the programme to the school, Kathy Cross said: “I am very proud of all these new DARE graduates and I know they are now well prepared to make informed choices and to deal successfully with the challenges they will face in the future.”

The Mayor of Broxtowe, Coun. John Longdon joins the DARE lion and DARE officer, Kathy Cross, to congratulate new graduates at Chetwynd Road Primary School in Beeston, Notts.