Someone hacked into another24.com and the site suffered a fatal error.
Unfortunately the I.T. person that handles the site is unable to fix and restore the site.
Hopefully the followers of another24.com will find us here.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
What is teen dating abuse and Who does dating abuse happen to the most?
There are three kinds of dating abuse:
Physical Abuse: This is when a teen is pinched, hit, shoved or kicked. He or she may throw things at you that could hurt you.
Emotional Abuse: This means threatening a teen or harming his or her sense of self-worth. Examples include name calling, teasing, threats, bullying or keeping a teen away from friends and family.
Sexual abuse: This includes not only rape but unwanted fondling. Remember, “No” means “No.” A popular response during my dating years was: “What is it you don’t understand about NO?”
In case you are confused about some of the above, let me give you a few real life examples.
1. Susie was thrilled when the boy she liked, a star football player in her high school, gave her his athletic jacket to wear at school games. She was less thrilled when he called her a “tease and a loser” in front of their classmates because she refused his sexual advances.
2. Kathy told everyone her boyfriend Mark never hit her. However, he often shoved her against walls if she didn’t move fast enough when they went through doorways. She was so hurt and ashamed that she “numbed out” each time, pretending it wasn’t happening. Eventually, his physical abuse increased in violence.
3. Wayne never told anyone that his girlfriend slapped him across the face when she became angry. He dealt with his depression by telling himself it was his fault and keeping it secret from his friends and family.
4. Adam, an immigrant, was bright and successful in school work but had only had one girl friend because his family did not approve of teen dating. MaryAnne would often tell him he was not good enough for her. Each time, she would ask him for a pricey gift and he would find a way to buy it for her. He was ashamed but he was lonely and everyone else in his class dated someone. He wanted to feel normal.
Who does dating abuse happen to the most?
According to a major government survey, one is every four adolescent’s reports verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse every year.
One in five reports being a victim of emotional abuse. The same survey found that one of every eleven high school students reports being physically hurt by someone they were dating. One in five high school girls has been physically or sexually abused by a dating partner.
Seventy-two percent of 8th and 9th graders reportedly “date”; by the time they are in high school, 54 percent of students report dating abuse among their peers.
Studies show that girls are abused more often than boys and when they are, they are hurt more seriously than boys are hurt.
Dating abuse can happen to the best. And it does. And most adults and teens don’t connect the link between dating abuse and their health. Did you know . . .
Eight percent of boys and nine percent of girls have been to an emergency room for an injury received from a dating partner.
Victims of dating abuse are also more likely to engage in binge drinking, suicide attempts, physical fights, and sexual activity.
Rates of drug, alcohol and tobacco use are more than twice as high in girls who report physical or sexual dating abuse than in girls who report no abuse.
Dating abuse is associated with unhealthy sexual behaviors that can lead to unintended pregnancy, sexually-transmitted diseases, and HIV infections.
Youth in abusive relationships often carry these unhealthy patterns of abuse into future relationships.
If you are not sure if you are in an abusive relationship, check out your date on the September 13th Action Page tip sheet under Articles. If you check off even one “yes”, there is cause for concern. If you say “yes” to two, you are in an abusive relationship or it is on its way to becoming one. Talk to your parents, teacher, school counselor or another responsible adult who can help you NOW. Check out www.loveisnotabuse.org , www.safeyouth.org , www.chooserespect.org or you may call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). They have extensive resources for all ages.
Tips for having healthy and safe relationships:
1. Get to know a person by talking on the phone or at school before you go out for the first time.
2. Go out with a group of friends to a public place the first few times you go out.
3. Tell at least one friend and your parents/guardians who you are going out with and where you are going. Also tell them how to reach you.
4. Tell the other person what you feel okay doing. Also, tell the person what time your parents/guardians want you to be home.
Source: Nemours Foundation
Physical Abuse: This is when a teen is pinched, hit, shoved or kicked. He or she may throw things at you that could hurt you.
Emotional Abuse: This means threatening a teen or harming his or her sense of self-worth. Examples include name calling, teasing, threats, bullying or keeping a teen away from friends and family.
Sexual abuse: This includes not only rape but unwanted fondling. Remember, “No” means “No.” A popular response during my dating years was: “What is it you don’t understand about NO?”
In case you are confused about some of the above, let me give you a few real life examples.
1. Susie was thrilled when the boy she liked, a star football player in her high school, gave her his athletic jacket to wear at school games. She was less thrilled when he called her a “tease and a loser” in front of their classmates because she refused his sexual advances.
2. Kathy told everyone her boyfriend Mark never hit her. However, he often shoved her against walls if she didn’t move fast enough when they went through doorways. She was so hurt and ashamed that she “numbed out” each time, pretending it wasn’t happening. Eventually, his physical abuse increased in violence.
3. Wayne never told anyone that his girlfriend slapped him across the face when she became angry. He dealt with his depression by telling himself it was his fault and keeping it secret from his friends and family.
4. Adam, an immigrant, was bright and successful in school work but had only had one girl friend because his family did not approve of teen dating. MaryAnne would often tell him he was not good enough for her. Each time, she would ask him for a pricey gift and he would find a way to buy it for her. He was ashamed but he was lonely and everyone else in his class dated someone. He wanted to feel normal.
Who does dating abuse happen to the most?
According to a major government survey, one is every four adolescent’s reports verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse every year.
One in five reports being a victim of emotional abuse. The same survey found that one of every eleven high school students reports being physically hurt by someone they were dating. One in five high school girls has been physically or sexually abused by a dating partner.
Seventy-two percent of 8th and 9th graders reportedly “date”; by the time they are in high school, 54 percent of students report dating abuse among their peers.
Studies show that girls are abused more often than boys and when they are, they are hurt more seriously than boys are hurt.
Dating abuse can happen to the best. And it does. And most adults and teens don’t connect the link between dating abuse and their health. Did you know . . .
Eight percent of boys and nine percent of girls have been to an emergency room for an injury received from a dating partner.
Victims of dating abuse are also more likely to engage in binge drinking, suicide attempts, physical fights, and sexual activity.
Rates of drug, alcohol and tobacco use are more than twice as high in girls who report physical or sexual dating abuse than in girls who report no abuse.
Dating abuse is associated with unhealthy sexual behaviors that can lead to unintended pregnancy, sexually-transmitted diseases, and HIV infections.
Youth in abusive relationships often carry these unhealthy patterns of abuse into future relationships.
If you are not sure if you are in an abusive relationship, check out your date on the September 13th Action Page tip sheet under Articles. If you check off even one “yes”, there is cause for concern. If you say “yes” to two, you are in an abusive relationship or it is on its way to becoming one. Talk to your parents, teacher, school counselor or another responsible adult who can help you NOW. Check out www.loveisnotabuse.org , www.safeyouth.org , www.chooserespect.org or you may call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). They have extensive resources for all ages.
Tips for having healthy and safe relationships:
1. Get to know a person by talking on the phone or at school before you go out for the first time.
2. Go out with a group of friends to a public place the first few times you go out.
3. Tell at least one friend and your parents/guardians who you are going out with and where you are going. Also tell them how to reach you.
4. Tell the other person what you feel okay doing. Also, tell the person what time your parents/guardians want you to be home.
Source: Nemours Foundation
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Teen dating violence versus adult domestic violence
How is teen dating abuse like adult domestic abuse?
Although teens, because of their lack of experience don’t recognize this, teen dating violence is similar in many ways to adult domestic violence. First, it happens between all kinds of people – rich, poor, middle class, heterosexual, gay or lesbian persons. Secondly, it happens in all races or ethnic backgrounds and it also happens between people from all religions.
Teen dating abuse also has the same patterns of abuse as adult abusive relationships do. Most abusers will start out “testing the waters”; doing something very small but hurtful like making fun of you. Then, if you accept it without comment, they increase their abuse. If you object or cry, they will apologize – profusely. They will buy you a gift they know you want or bring flowers. Abusers always say the same things: “I’m sorry; I won’t do it again”; or not unusually, “you made me do it”.
Often, if they have used words to hurt you or humiliate you, they will say “I didn’t mean it like that. Can’t you take a joke?” This is meant to confuse you and to humiliate you further by implying that it’s all your fault that you don’t understand what he(0r she) says. Do not fall for this cowardly ploy for a New York minute.
The next abuse will be more hurtful. An abuser works to desensitize you, to see how far they can go without consequences so they can go further. AND SO THEY CAN KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO CONTROL YOU THROUGH YOUR EMOTIONS. Teen dating abuse is like adult domestic violence in that the abuser has you so confused, so hurt yet sure it is YOU that you are like a prizefighter, reeling against the ropes. They have you apologizing for nothing, wondering what you can do to make it better, and feeling terrified that their rage will happen again – and you won’t know when or why.
Like adult abusers, teen abusers become most dangerous when their prey – YOU – decide to leave the relationships. You need help and you need resources to do this safely. Please don’t underestimate the violence these people are capable of doing, no matter how young they are.
How is teen dating violence different from adult domestic violence?
During your teen years, you are developing your future life. You’re learning how to form friendships with both genders, to build the school grades, personal interests and values that will support your future life. This is also when you are able to experiment with extracurricular activities to “try on” possible careers. This time is when you are learning how to build healthy relationships.
Do you like acting? Or writing? Or teaching? Athletics? Medicine? Being a business owner? Do you dream of being the first girl in your class to fly to the moon? There are endless possibilities in your world, wherever you are, to test out your talents and your interests. Check them out.
Although teens, because of their lack of experience don’t recognize this, teen dating violence is similar in many ways to adult domestic violence. First, it happens between all kinds of people – rich, poor, middle class, heterosexual, gay or lesbian persons. Secondly, it happens in all races or ethnic backgrounds and it also happens between people from all religions.
Teen dating abuse also has the same patterns of abuse as adult abusive relationships do. Most abusers will start out “testing the waters”; doing something very small but hurtful like making fun of you. Then, if you accept it without comment, they increase their abuse. If you object or cry, they will apologize – profusely. They will buy you a gift they know you want or bring flowers. Abusers always say the same things: “I’m sorry; I won’t do it again”; or not unusually, “you made me do it”.
Often, if they have used words to hurt you or humiliate you, they will say “I didn’t mean it like that. Can’t you take a joke?” This is meant to confuse you and to humiliate you further by implying that it’s all your fault that you don’t understand what he(0r she) says. Do not fall for this cowardly ploy for a New York minute.
The next abuse will be more hurtful. An abuser works to desensitize you, to see how far they can go without consequences so they can go further. AND SO THEY CAN KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO CONTROL YOU THROUGH YOUR EMOTIONS. Teen dating abuse is like adult domestic violence in that the abuser has you so confused, so hurt yet sure it is YOU that you are like a prizefighter, reeling against the ropes. They have you apologizing for nothing, wondering what you can do to make it better, and feeling terrified that their rage will happen again – and you won’t know when or why.
Like adult abusers, teen abusers become most dangerous when their prey – YOU – decide to leave the relationships. You need help and you need resources to do this safely. Please don’t underestimate the violence these people are capable of doing, no matter how young they are.
How is teen dating violence different from adult domestic violence?
During your teen years, you are developing your future life. You’re learning how to form friendships with both genders, to build the school grades, personal interests and values that will support your future life. This is also when you are able to experiment with extracurricular activities to “try on” possible careers. This time is when you are learning how to build healthy relationships.
Do you like acting? Or writing? Or teaching? Athletics? Medicine? Being a business owner? Do you dream of being the first girl in your class to fly to the moon? There are endless possibilities in your world, wherever you are, to test out your talents and your interests. Check them out.
Monday, September 13, 2010
WHAT IS TEEN DATING ABUSE?
In The News:
Lily, aged 22, and Ida, 18, were my neighbors in New York City. Each evening, we’d see each other as we returned home from work. Saturdays, after mopping our kitchen floors, we’d sit on the steps between our apartments, sip coffee and chat about our dreams.
Ida was attending nurse’s training. Lily moved Ida from Brooklyn so her younger sister could attend school in the city. Lily worked to help support her sister and her education. However, their mother, who was ill, was worried. She thought Ida was too young to be in the city. She begged the girls to return home. Finally, they did.
Soon after returning to her mother’s home, Ida met a “home boy” five years older than she. He had left the neighborhood for several years. They dated occasionally. When I’d see the sisters, they would talk about how “crazy” Harry was about Ida. He sent her flowers, bought her gifts, followed wherever she went. Ida said he was “fun” but silly. Ida’s only dream was to become a registered nurse.
One day, Lily and Ida were in a local diner having lunch with a male friend. There Harry was, staring into the window. The girls became giddy and Ida giggled that she wished she could “get rid of him”, that he was “a pest.” Later, Lily told how they laughed as “we ducked out of the back door and ran like the dickens.”
Several weeks later, Harry followed Ida home from a date, waited until her male friend left, then -- as her mother watched from ten stories above, screaming for help -- he stabbed Ida 17 times. Ida died on her doorstep.
At Ida’s funeral, Lily completed the story, the part she and Ida had not known. Harry had been in prison those four years when he was not in the neighborhood for an attack on another girl. Lily wept bitterly, blaming herself.
Lily, aged 22, and Ida, 18, were my neighbors in New York City. Each evening, we’d see each other as we returned home from work. Saturdays, after mopping our kitchen floors, we’d sit on the steps between our apartments, sip coffee and chat about our dreams.
Ida was attending nurse’s training. Lily moved Ida from Brooklyn so her younger sister could attend school in the city. Lily worked to help support her sister and her education. However, their mother, who was ill, was worried. She thought Ida was too young to be in the city. She begged the girls to return home. Finally, they did.
Soon after returning to her mother’s home, Ida met a “home boy” five years older than she. He had left the neighborhood for several years. They dated occasionally. When I’d see the sisters, they would talk about how “crazy” Harry was about Ida. He sent her flowers, bought her gifts, followed wherever she went. Ida said he was “fun” but silly. Ida’s only dream was to become a registered nurse.
One day, Lily and Ida were in a local diner having lunch with a male friend. There Harry was, staring into the window. The girls became giddy and Ida giggled that she wished she could “get rid of him”, that he was “a pest.” Later, Lily told how they laughed as “we ducked out of the back door and ran like the dickens.”
Several weeks later, Harry followed Ida home from a date, waited until her male friend left, then -- as her mother watched from ten stories above, screaming for help -- he stabbed Ida 17 times. Ida died on her doorstep.
At Ida’s funeral, Lily completed the story, the part she and Ida had not known. Harry had been in prison those four years when he was not in the neighborhood for an attack on another girl. Lily wept bitterly, blaming herself.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
VERBAL KARATE – What to Say When No is What You Want to Say No!
The most important thing we learn as we grow up is that we don’t have to justify or be defensive about our decisions to do what we consider the right things for us.
However, we can phrase rejections of others’ ideas in ways that don’t sound like personal rejections of them. Here’s a roundup of ways to say No and still leave others feeling unthreatened or criticized.
Your friends as they smoke outside class: “Have a smoke.” Or “Have a Chew” Or, “Here, have a wad on me.”
You: “No, thanks.”
If they persist, you can choose to offer a non-critical reason – or not.
You: No, thanks. I just had my teeth [cleaned] [whitened] and tobacco makes your teeth get yellow.
You: No, thanks. I don’t like the taste of tobacco.
You: No, thanks. I have to run [or play football] or [workout] and it shortens my breathing.
You: No, thanks. I’m allergic to tobacco.
You: No way. My parents would skin me alive.
Or you may deflect the offer by using questions:
Wow, do your folks know you smoke?
Isn’t it really expensive to smoke? I know I couldn’t afford it.
Did you know that most [boys] or [girls] say they don’t like to date anyone who smokes?
This is what one 19-yearold Texan college student told me when I asked him if he smoked:
“I don’t smoke. Why? Because I know the health hazards connected with smoking and I don’t want to do that to my body.”
Now, have fun. Slam my suggestions and come up with your best shots!!!!
Resources: www.girlshealth.gov, www.freevibe.org, www.girlpower.gov, www.cdc.gov, www.tobacco.org, www.nida.gov, www.tobaccofreekids.org, www.drugabuse.gov, www.cancer.gov,
However, we can phrase rejections of others’ ideas in ways that don’t sound like personal rejections of them. Here’s a roundup of ways to say No and still leave others feeling unthreatened or criticized.
Your friends as they smoke outside class: “Have a smoke.” Or “Have a Chew” Or, “Here, have a wad on me.”
You: “No, thanks.”
If they persist, you can choose to offer a non-critical reason – or not.
You: No, thanks. I just had my teeth [cleaned] [whitened] and tobacco makes your teeth get yellow.
You: No, thanks. I don’t like the taste of tobacco.
You: No, thanks. I have to run [or play football] or [workout] and it shortens my breathing.
You: No, thanks. I’m allergic to tobacco.
You: No way. My parents would skin me alive.
Or you may deflect the offer by using questions:
Wow, do your folks know you smoke?
Isn’t it really expensive to smoke? I know I couldn’t afford it.
Did you know that most [boys] or [girls] say they don’t like to date anyone who smokes?
This is what one 19-yearold Texan college student told me when I asked him if he smoked:
“I don’t smoke. Why? Because I know the health hazards connected with smoking and I don’t want to do that to my body.”
Now, have fun. Slam my suggestions and come up with your best shots!!!!
Resources: www.girlshealth.gov, www.freevibe.org, www.girlpower.gov, www.cdc.gov, www.tobacco.org, www.nida.gov, www.tobaccofreekids.org, www.drugabuse.gov, www.cancer.gov,
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Not starting to smoke is the best form of prevention.
Okay, now I can hear you saying, “That’s not as easy as it sounds. All my friends smoke. Even my dad (or Mom or brother or sister) smokes like a chimney. And my classmates all gather outside classes to smoke and if I don’t smoke with them, they’ll say I’m a geek.” Or a dork or whatever.
Or, if you’re in college, you feel like you’ll be shut out of the activities your “cool” classmates all do in their free time. Okay, I get it.
First of all, the biggest geek in America who dropped out of college to tinker around with his computers is now the richest geek in America. He has a mansion so high tech that it does everything but breathe for him. He has his own private jet – heck, he probably has a fleet of his own jet planes and helicopters and the pilots and stewardess’ to go with them. He’s had his picture on every major magazine in America and is considered the coolest geek in America. You know who I mean --- remember Bill Gates?
And the most popular, coolest – and really envied – “regular” guys around these days are the guys who work for the Geek Squads. Handsome pony tailed dudes or crew cut fellas with Coke Bottle glasses and teen acne, the gals get a glow when these fellows start throwing around their technical jargon. So much for name calling.
The Good News . . . and the Bad News
There was a decline in smoking among middle school and high school youngsters from the late 90s until 2004 . . . then that leveled off. Now kid smokers are said to be increasing once again.
Here’s the latest figures: 224,063 kids became regular smokers in 2007. 71,689 will die prematurely from their addiction.
Will one of those children or grandchildren be yours?
The Good News
In the largest national study on smoking and youth ever, youngsters are saying that they prefer to date those who do NOT smoke.
The attitude that “smoking is dirty” and “I think becoming a smoker shows poor judgment” are held by many while 80 percent of all 8th and 10th graders agree that they prefer to date people who do not smoke.
The bad news is that many youngsters in the 8th grades interviewed in this national survey no longer believed smoking is dangerous although 10th graders did know that.
The Best News of All
Parents can influence their children’s or young adults’ tobacco use.
Here are some ways you can help stop your children from using tobacco:
Talk to your children about tobacco smoking, dipping or chewing.
Share the information in this book with your family and with other parents.
If you smoke, dip or chew tobacco, consider stopping or at the least, do not do so in your home or in your children’s presence.
Set an example by quitting.
Work on one or more of the Action Pages in this book with your youngsters.
Get rid of all the ashtrays, lighters, and other smoking paraphernalia around the house.
Get involved with smoke free campaigns in your PTA, church, condo board or wherever you can.
Set an example. Make your home and car smoke free.
Encourage your family to question the truth of all tobacco advertising.
Encourage your family to analyze how the different tobacco ads influence or don’t influence them. Make a game of it.
Have a night when you cut out some old magazines’ tobacco ads and paste them together in collages that show the truths behind the tobacco industry’s ads. Have fun with it.
If you are politically inclined, let your children know you are contacting your state and national legislators about their votes on kid-protective bills relating to tobacco.
Go online with your youngsters and show them the photos of Sean Marsee, the young athlete mentioned earlier in this book. One picture is sometimes worth a thousand words.
If you belong to the PTA or a service organization like the Kiwanis, The Lion’s Clubs of America, Soroptimist clubs or the local Rotary club, find out if they support school “tobacco free environments” in and near schools.
According to a national study conducted to assess school health policies reported in 2000, a “Tobacco free environment” exists if the state, district, or school has a policy prohibiting cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoking, and smokeless tobacco use by students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The policy prohibits tobacco use in school buildings, on school grounds, in school buses or other vehicles used to transport students, and at off-campus, school-sponsored events.
I must be dumber than a box of rocks because I don’t get it. If we were talking about any other addiction, like cocaine or heroin, we’d all be running in the streets to jail those drug pushers like we were running the bulls at Pamplona. Instead, we ignore the many deaths and disfigurements caused by tobacco and those who push it, deliberately glamorize it, and sell it to our youngest and most impressionable youngsters. Hello?
Prevention for the Tempted
Do you play sports? Are you a dancer? Do you sing or play an instrument in the band? Well, guess what? If you smoke, you will not be able to do any of these things very well. It doesn’t matter if you smoke only one cigarette a week or one pack a day—damage starts right away and gets worse as you keep smoking. Smokers can’t get as much oxygen to their muscles so their muscles hurt more when playing sports or exercising. They also run slower and can’t run as far. You will have trouble breathing if you smoke, which is definitely not a good thing if you are active or play an instrument.
Did you know?
That most American youngsters from middle to high school say they won’t date anyone who smokes?
Smoking ads may try to make smoking look cool, but you’re smarter than that. The tobacco companies are not looking out for you, so you have to look out for yourself. Don’t smoke. If you smoke, quit. Either way, you win by not giving them your money!
Did you know?
That even though a lot of teens use tobacco, most don’t. According to a 1998 study, less than 20 percent of teens are regular smokers. In fact, 64 percent of 12- to 17- year olds do not smoke?
Did you know?
That poisons in cigarettes can dry out your skin and cause wrinkles? Some research relates smoking to premature gray hair and hair loss.
Did you know?
That nearly 86 percent of 8th-grade girls DO NOT smoke and 77 percent of 10th-grade girls DO NOT smoke?
Did you know?
That each day more than 3,000 people under age 18 become regular smokers? That's more than 1 million teens per year. Roughly one-third of them will eventually die from a tobacco-related disease.
What Quitting can Do For Your Health
12 hours after quitting the dangerous carbon dioxide level in your blood drops to normal.
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting, your heart, and lungs begin to work better.
1 to 9 months after quitting, coughing, fatigue, and shortness of breath start to go away.
1 year after quitting, your risk of heart disease goes down.
Okay, you’re at least thinking about smoking and how, “Not starting smoking is the best prevention.”
Or, if you’re in college, you feel like you’ll be shut out of the activities your “cool” classmates all do in their free time. Okay, I get it.
First of all, the biggest geek in America who dropped out of college to tinker around with his computers is now the richest geek in America. He has a mansion so high tech that it does everything but breathe for him. He has his own private jet – heck, he probably has a fleet of his own jet planes and helicopters and the pilots and stewardess’ to go with them. He’s had his picture on every major magazine in America and is considered the coolest geek in America. You know who I mean --- remember Bill Gates?
And the most popular, coolest – and really envied – “regular” guys around these days are the guys who work for the Geek Squads. Handsome pony tailed dudes or crew cut fellas with Coke Bottle glasses and teen acne, the gals get a glow when these fellows start throwing around their technical jargon. So much for name calling.
The Good News . . . and the Bad News
There was a decline in smoking among middle school and high school youngsters from the late 90s until 2004 . . . then that leveled off. Now kid smokers are said to be increasing once again.
Here’s the latest figures: 224,063 kids became regular smokers in 2007. 71,689 will die prematurely from their addiction.
Will one of those children or grandchildren be yours?
The Good News
In the largest national study on smoking and youth ever, youngsters are saying that they prefer to date those who do NOT smoke.
The attitude that “smoking is dirty” and “I think becoming a smoker shows poor judgment” are held by many while 80 percent of all 8th and 10th graders agree that they prefer to date people who do not smoke.
The bad news is that many youngsters in the 8th grades interviewed in this national survey no longer believed smoking is dangerous although 10th graders did know that.
The Best News of All
Parents can influence their children’s or young adults’ tobacco use.
Here are some ways you can help stop your children from using tobacco:
Talk to your children about tobacco smoking, dipping or chewing.
Share the information in this book with your family and with other parents.
If you smoke, dip or chew tobacco, consider stopping or at the least, do not do so in your home or in your children’s presence.
Set an example by quitting.
Work on one or more of the Action Pages in this book with your youngsters.
Get rid of all the ashtrays, lighters, and other smoking paraphernalia around the house.
Get involved with smoke free campaigns in your PTA, church, condo board or wherever you can.
Set an example. Make your home and car smoke free.
Encourage your family to question the truth of all tobacco advertising.
Encourage your family to analyze how the different tobacco ads influence or don’t influence them. Make a game of it.
Have a night when you cut out some old magazines’ tobacco ads and paste them together in collages that show the truths behind the tobacco industry’s ads. Have fun with it.
If you are politically inclined, let your children know you are contacting your state and national legislators about their votes on kid-protective bills relating to tobacco.
Go online with your youngsters and show them the photos of Sean Marsee, the young athlete mentioned earlier in this book. One picture is sometimes worth a thousand words.
If you belong to the PTA or a service organization like the Kiwanis, The Lion’s Clubs of America, Soroptimist clubs or the local Rotary club, find out if they support school “tobacco free environments” in and near schools.
According to a national study conducted to assess school health policies reported in 2000, a “Tobacco free environment” exists if the state, district, or school has a policy prohibiting cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoking, and smokeless tobacco use by students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The policy prohibits tobacco use in school buildings, on school grounds, in school buses or other vehicles used to transport students, and at off-campus, school-sponsored events.
I must be dumber than a box of rocks because I don’t get it. If we were talking about any other addiction, like cocaine or heroin, we’d all be running in the streets to jail those drug pushers like we were running the bulls at Pamplona. Instead, we ignore the many deaths and disfigurements caused by tobacco and those who push it, deliberately glamorize it, and sell it to our youngest and most impressionable youngsters. Hello?
Prevention for the Tempted
Do you play sports? Are you a dancer? Do you sing or play an instrument in the band? Well, guess what? If you smoke, you will not be able to do any of these things very well. It doesn’t matter if you smoke only one cigarette a week or one pack a day—damage starts right away and gets worse as you keep smoking. Smokers can’t get as much oxygen to their muscles so their muscles hurt more when playing sports or exercising. They also run slower and can’t run as far. You will have trouble breathing if you smoke, which is definitely not a good thing if you are active or play an instrument.
Did you know?
That most American youngsters from middle to high school say they won’t date anyone who smokes?
Smoking ads may try to make smoking look cool, but you’re smarter than that. The tobacco companies are not looking out for you, so you have to look out for yourself. Don’t smoke. If you smoke, quit. Either way, you win by not giving them your money!
Did you know?
That even though a lot of teens use tobacco, most don’t. According to a 1998 study, less than 20 percent of teens are regular smokers. In fact, 64 percent of 12- to 17- year olds do not smoke?
Did you know?
That poisons in cigarettes can dry out your skin and cause wrinkles? Some research relates smoking to premature gray hair and hair loss.
Did you know?
That nearly 86 percent of 8th-grade girls DO NOT smoke and 77 percent of 10th-grade girls DO NOT smoke?
Did you know?
That each day more than 3,000 people under age 18 become regular smokers? That's more than 1 million teens per year. Roughly one-third of them will eventually die from a tobacco-related disease.
What Quitting can Do For Your Health
12 hours after quitting the dangerous carbon dioxide level in your blood drops to normal.
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting, your heart, and lungs begin to work better.
1 to 9 months after quitting, coughing, fatigue, and shortness of breath start to go away.
1 year after quitting, your risk of heart disease goes down.
Okay, you’re at least thinking about smoking and how, “Not starting smoking is the best prevention.”
Monday, September 6, 2010
Dealing with Withdrawal Symptoms
Most but not all those who’ve quit smoking have struggled with smoking withdrawal symptoms. Knowing what they are for most may help you prepare yourself to deal with one or more of them on your way to being smoke free.
Common feelings of smoking withdrawal include:
Feeling depressed
Not being able to sleep
Getting cranky, frustrated, or mad
Feeling anxious, nervous, or restless
Having trouble thinking clearly
Feeling hungry or gaining weight
Not everyone has feelings of withdrawal. You may have one or many of these problems. And they may last different amounts of time. The proper medicines can help. Talk to your family doctor if you have any of them.
Sources: National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American University at Washington, DC, NIDA websites, www.health.org
Help by Phone: Call from anywhere: 1-877-44U-QUIT
Smoking cessation counselors from the National Cancer Institute are available to answer smoking-related questions in English or Spanish, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time.
For help within your state, call 1-800-Quit Now or 1-800-784-8669
NOTICE TO PARENTS: LISTED BELOW ARE TIPS ON HOW TO KNOW IF SOMEONE IS SMOKING.
How can you tell if someone is using tobacco? Sometimes it's tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend or child has one or more of the following signs, he or she may be regularly using tobacco:
• Problems remembering things they recently said or did
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Bad breath
• Smelly hair and clothes
• Yellow-stained teeth and fingers
• Frequent colds
• Decreased senses of smell and taste
• Difficulty keeping up with sports and athletic activities
• Bleeding gums (smokeless tobacco)
• Frequent mouth sores (smokeless tobacco)
What can you do to help someone who is using tobacco? Be a real friend. Encourage that person to quit.
Common feelings of smoking withdrawal include:
Feeling depressed
Not being able to sleep
Getting cranky, frustrated, or mad
Feeling anxious, nervous, or restless
Having trouble thinking clearly
Feeling hungry or gaining weight
Not everyone has feelings of withdrawal. You may have one or many of these problems. And they may last different amounts of time. The proper medicines can help. Talk to your family doctor if you have any of them.
Sources: National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American University at Washington, DC, NIDA websites, www.health.org
Help by Phone: Call from anywhere: 1-877-44U-QUIT
Smoking cessation counselors from the National Cancer Institute are available to answer smoking-related questions in English or Spanish, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time.
For help within your state, call 1-800-Quit Now or 1-800-784-8669
NOTICE TO PARENTS: LISTED BELOW ARE TIPS ON HOW TO KNOW IF SOMEONE IS SMOKING.
How can you tell if someone is using tobacco? Sometimes it's tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend or child has one or more of the following signs, he or she may be regularly using tobacco:
• Problems remembering things they recently said or did
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Bad breath
• Smelly hair and clothes
• Yellow-stained teeth and fingers
• Frequent colds
• Decreased senses of smell and taste
• Difficulty keeping up with sports and athletic activities
• Bleeding gums (smokeless tobacco)
• Frequent mouth sores (smokeless tobacco)
What can you do to help someone who is using tobacco? Be a real friend. Encourage that person to quit.
Dealing with Withdrawal Symptoms
Most but not all those who’ve quit smoking have struggled with smoking withdrawal symptoms. Knowing what they are for most may help you prepare yourself to deal with one or more of them on your way to being smoke free.
Common feelings of smoking withdrawal include:
Feeling depressed
Not being able to sleep
Getting cranky, frustrated, or mad
Feeling anxious, nervous, or restless
Having trouble thinking clearly
Feeling hungry or gaining weight
Not everyone has feelings of withdrawal. You may have one or many of these problems. And they may last different amounts of time. The proper medicines can help. Talk to your family doctor if you have any of them.
Sources: National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American University at Washington, DC, NIDA websites, www.health.org
Help by Phone: Call from anywhere: 1-877-44U-QUIT
Smoking cessation counselors from the National Cancer Institute are available to answer smoking-related questions in English or Spanish, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time.
For help within your state, call 1-800-Quit Now or 1-800-784-8669
NOTICE TO PARENTS: LISTED BELOW ARE TIPS ON HOW TO KNOW IF SOMEONE IS SMOKING.
How can you tell if someone is using tobacco? Sometimes it’s tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend or child has one or more of the following signs, he or she may be regularly using tobacco:
• Problems remembering things they recently said or did
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Bad breath
• Smelly hair and clothes
• Yellow-stained teeth and fingers
• Frequent colds
• Decreased senses of smell and taste
• Difficulty keeping up with sports and athletic activities
• Bleeding gums (smokeless tobacco)
• Frequent mouth sores (smokeless tobacco)
What can you do to help someone who is using tobacco? Be a real friend. Encourage that person to quit.
Common feelings of smoking withdrawal include:
Feeling depressed
Not being able to sleep
Getting cranky, frustrated, or mad
Feeling anxious, nervous, or restless
Having trouble thinking clearly
Feeling hungry or gaining weight
Not everyone has feelings of withdrawal. You may have one or many of these problems. And they may last different amounts of time. The proper medicines can help. Talk to your family doctor if you have any of them.
Sources: National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American University at Washington, DC, NIDA websites, www.health.org
Help by Phone: Call from anywhere: 1-877-44U-QUIT
Smoking cessation counselors from the National Cancer Institute are available to answer smoking-related questions in English or Spanish, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time.
For help within your state, call 1-800-Quit Now or 1-800-784-8669
NOTICE TO PARENTS: LISTED BELOW ARE TIPS ON HOW TO KNOW IF SOMEONE IS SMOKING.
How can you tell if someone is using tobacco? Sometimes it’s tough to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend or child has one or more of the following signs, he or she may be regularly using tobacco:
• Problems remembering things they recently said or did
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Bad breath
• Smelly hair and clothes
• Yellow-stained teeth and fingers
• Frequent colds
• Decreased senses of smell and taste
• Difficulty keeping up with sports and athletic activities
• Bleeding gums (smokeless tobacco)
• Frequent mouth sores (smokeless tobacco)
What can you do to help someone who is using tobacco? Be a real friend. Encourage that person to quit.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Successful Tobacco Cessation Programs: Long term “Quit Plan”
Just thinking about quitting may make you anxious. But your chances for success quitting will be better if you get ready first. Quitting works best when you're prepared.
Five Days Before Quitting
• Think about your reasons for quitting.
• Tell your friends and family you are planning to quit.
• Stop buying cigarettes – or any other types of tobacco. .
Four Days Before Your Quit Date
• Pay attention to when and why you smoke. Write some ways to avoid those “favorite” smokes in your journal. Just write quickly; don’t even think. Set it aside. Read it all a day or two later.
• Think of other things to hold in your hand instead of a cigarette. A fancy pen you can tap when you are anxious? A colored pencil to doodle with? A fancy glass filled with ice water? What? A colleague of mine had a little frog that hopped and whenever he became anxious, his little frog hopped all over his desk. Pretty funny and no need to trek outdoors in the snowstorms to grab a cigarette.
• Think of habits or routines to change. If you always smoke when you are on the phone at home or at work, you might consider pacing about instead of smoking. You’ll get exercise and breathe better. If you smoke most when you are in certain environments like bars, you might have to change to restaurants where there are smoke free zones.
Three Days Before Quit Day
Clean out your home, car and work spaces
Clean your drapes and clothes. Get a haircut. Shampoo your car. Buy a car and home scent you like. Your sense of smell will soon be getting better.
Throw away all your cigarettes and matches. Give or throw away your lighters and ashtrays. Remember the ashtray and lighter in your car!
Have your dentist clean your teeth to get rid of smoking stains. See how great they look. Try to keep them that way.
Some smokers save one pack of cigarettes. They do it "just in case." Or they want to prove they have the willpower not to smoke. Don't! Saving one pack just makes it easier to start smoking again.
Two Days Before Your Quit Date
• Buy the nicotine patch or nicotine gum.
• Or see your doctor to get the nicotine inhaler, nasal spray, or the non-nicotine pill or other cessation used prescription drug.
One Day Before Your Quit Date• Put away lighters and ashtrays.
• Throw away all cigarettes and matches. .
Quit Day
• Keep very busy.
• Remind family and friends that this is your quit day.
• Stay away from alcohol.
• Give yourself a treat, or do something special.
• Call a friend or "quit smoking" support group.
• Eat healthy food and get exercise.
Congratulations!!! You’re now Smoke Free!
Five Days Before Quitting
• Think about your reasons for quitting.
• Tell your friends and family you are planning to quit.
• Stop buying cigarettes – or any other types of tobacco. .
Four Days Before Your Quit Date
• Pay attention to when and why you smoke. Write some ways to avoid those “favorite” smokes in your journal. Just write quickly; don’t even think. Set it aside. Read it all a day or two later.
• Think of other things to hold in your hand instead of a cigarette. A fancy pen you can tap when you are anxious? A colored pencil to doodle with? A fancy glass filled with ice water? What? A colleague of mine had a little frog that hopped and whenever he became anxious, his little frog hopped all over his desk. Pretty funny and no need to trek outdoors in the snowstorms to grab a cigarette.
• Think of habits or routines to change. If you always smoke when you are on the phone at home or at work, you might consider pacing about instead of smoking. You’ll get exercise and breathe better. If you smoke most when you are in certain environments like bars, you might have to change to restaurants where there are smoke free zones.
Three Days Before Quit Day
Clean out your home, car and work spaces
Clean your drapes and clothes. Get a haircut. Shampoo your car. Buy a car and home scent you like. Your sense of smell will soon be getting better.
Throw away all your cigarettes and matches. Give or throw away your lighters and ashtrays. Remember the ashtray and lighter in your car!
Have your dentist clean your teeth to get rid of smoking stains. See how great they look. Try to keep them that way.
Some smokers save one pack of cigarettes. They do it "just in case." Or they want to prove they have the willpower not to smoke. Don't! Saving one pack just makes it easier to start smoking again.
Two Days Before Your Quit Date
• Buy the nicotine patch or nicotine gum.
• Or see your doctor to get the nicotine inhaler, nasal spray, or the non-nicotine pill or other cessation used prescription drug.
One Day Before Your Quit Date• Put away lighters and ashtrays.
• Throw away all cigarettes and matches. .
Quit Day
• Keep very busy.
• Remind family and friends that this is your quit day.
• Stay away from alcohol.
• Give yourself a treat, or do something special.
• Call a friend or "quit smoking" support group.
• Eat healthy food and get exercise.
Congratulations!!! You’re now Smoke Free!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Successful Tobacco Cessation Programs: Nicotine Replacement
Your doctor, dentist, or pharmacist can suggest the correct nicotine replacement drug for you. If you can’t see your doctor, go to your local pharmacy or grocery store for over the counter nicotine replacement medicines. Read the instructions to see if the medicine is right for you. If you're not sure, ask the pharmacist. If you are taking other medications, ask the pharmacist or your doctor if they will interact well with the nicotine replacement drug you are considering.
Other tobacco cessation prescription drugs, such as Zyban or FDA approved Chantix, must be prescribed by your doctor or dentist.
Right now is when I tell you about a controversial tobacco cessation study being done by the psychology department of an American university that relies on a combination of behavioral therapy and -- well, smoking.
Smokers in the study are scheduled to smoke at times when they usually wouldn’t smoke and kept from smoking at their habitual times. This is said to have been designed to “break the psychological connection” between desire and act. Since this is a relatively short seven week program, its success would be a boon to those smokers, like me, who quit about ten times before I quit forever. However, since the study is still in progress, there is no way yet to judge its success. I need to add that all government studies on tobacco cessation programs -- for all age groups -- strongly advise against “cutting back” or smoking during attempts to quit smoking.
Other tobacco cessation prescription drugs, such as Zyban or FDA approved Chantix, must be prescribed by your doctor or dentist.
Right now is when I tell you about a controversial tobacco cessation study being done by the psychology department of an American university that relies on a combination of behavioral therapy and -- well, smoking.
Smokers in the study are scheduled to smoke at times when they usually wouldn’t smoke and kept from smoking at their habitual times. This is said to have been designed to “break the psychological connection” between desire and act. Since this is a relatively short seven week program, its success would be a boon to those smokers, like me, who quit about ten times before I quit forever. However, since the study is still in progress, there is no way yet to judge its success. I need to add that all government studies on tobacco cessation programs -- for all age groups -- strongly advise against “cutting back” or smoking during attempts to quit smoking.
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