New Research
In Fight Against Teen Prescription Drug Abuse, One-Two Punch Wins
Some programs aimed at fighting teen prescription drug abuse produce big drops in drug abuse, while others have no measurable effect, according to a new study of 11,000 teenagers by researchers at Duke and Pennsylvania State universities. The best results came from pairing a school-based program with a home-based intervention.
Abuse of prescription opioids, a form of painkiller, is the fastest-growing form of illicit drug use in the country, affecting more than 12 million Americans. It’s critical to know which prevention efforts work, said lead author Max Crowley.
“There’s a growing national debate about whether we should restrict access to these drugs,” Crowley said. “What’s being left out of the debate is the role of prevention.”
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Retention Leads to Discipline Problems in Other Kids
When students repeat a grade, it can spell trouble for their classmates, according to a new Duke University-led study of nearly 80,000 middle-schoolers. In schools with high numbers of grade repeaters, suspensions were more likely to occur across the school community. Discipline problems were also more common among other students, including substance abuse, fighting and classroom disruption.
“The decision to retain students has consequences for the whole school community,” said lead author Clara Muschkin.
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