teenagers

In Palo Alto's High-Pressure Schools, Suicides Lead To Soul-Searching

10:51am May 11, 2015

by NPR Staff

The competitive California school district has seen four students take their own lives since October. One junior talks about reactions to the deaths, pressures students face and hopes for the future.

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Nicotine exposure at a young age "may cause lasting harm to brain development," warns Dr. Tom Frieden, chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Use Of E-Cigarettes Triples Among U.S. Teens

8:13pm April 16, 2015

by Rob Stein

Even as the use of traditional cigarettes and most other tobacco products dipped or stayed the same from 2013 to 2014, the use of e-cigarettes climbed among students in high school and middle school.

Jump off a roof? Ride a bike while texting? Well, what do you think?

Tweeners Trust Peers More Than Adults When Judging Risks

3:33pm April 01, 2015

by Nancy Shute

We all tend to adjust our opinions based on what other people think. But young teenagers pay far more attention to other teens than they do to adults, a study finds. That explains a lot, doesn't it?

Most teenagers with mental health problems don't get any help.

New York City To Teens: TXT ME With Mental Health Worries

12:57pm March 27, 2015

by Maanvi Singh

In an effort to connect teenagers with mental health services, New York is testing counseling via text for high school students. They join a growing trend.

For Young People In Rural Areas, Suicide Poses A Growing Threat

5:59pm March 09, 2015

by Maanvi Singh

Young men are twice as likely to die by suicide if they live in rural areas rather than cities, and that disparity is widening. Lack of mental health services is a factor; access to firearms is, too.

High-end marijuana buds on sale at a Denver dispensary.

Pot Can Trigger Psychotic Symptoms For Some, But Do The Effects Last?

3:05pm March 06, 2015

by Angus Chen

Scientists are sharply divided on whether the disordered thinking and paranoia sometimes caused by marijuana is just a temporary thing or the start of long-term disorders like schizophrenia.

Women and younger students were more likely to drink less after alcohol-education programs.

College Help For Students Cuts Drinking, But Not For Long

11:24am March 06, 2015

by Maanvi Singh

Most colleges offer some sort of alcohol education. One-time interventions do reduce drinking, but the effect is short-lived. Women have better results. There's no benefit for men in frats.

If your idea of fun is being falling-down drunk, there's plenty for you on YouTube.

Hammered And Heedless: Do Dangerous Drinking Videos Harm Teens?

11:57am February 23, 2015

by Maanvi Singh

Being falling-down drunk is often played for laughs on YouTube videos, but those videos don't show the downside of getting trashed. That can't be good for teenagers and young adults, researchers say.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says middle and high schools shouldn't start before 8:30 a.m., so students can get enough sleep.

Many Parents Aren't Sold On Later School Start Times For Teens

3:07pm February 17, 2015

by Nancy Shute

Just half of parents say schools should start later so teenagers can get more sleep, a survey found. But most of the parents also weren't aware that pediatricians have called for a start of 8:30 a.m.

David Hermlin is a singer, dancer, musician and songwriter — oh, and a global activist, too. Sample lyric: "I will fight for my dream, and I will never give up."

Health & Safety

He's Half-Kenyan And Half-German. And He Believes 'We're All The Same'

12:57pm February 17, 2015

by Marc Silver

David Hermlin, 14, is a realist and idealist. He knows it'll take many years to get rid of poverty and disease. But by speaking out and writing songs with a message, he hopes to make a difference.