Teens Who Experience Dating Violence at Increased Risk of Substance Abuse   

Teenage girls who experience dating violence are more likely to binge drink compared with their peers who aren't in abusive relationships, a new study finds. Teen boys who report dating violence are more likely to use marijuana as young adults compared with boys with healthy dating relationships.

A new study suggests policies that ban tobacco-product displays at the point of sale may help reduce teen smoking. The study included 1,200 teens who were smokers, or considered to be likely smokers. They "shopped" in a virtual convenience store. In some of the stores, cigarette products were visible, while in others they were hidden. In some stores, tobacco ads were present. In others, they were either hidden or banned altogether. The teens were told to buy one drink, one snack and two additional items at check-out. There were no restrictions on what they could purchase.

The researchers found 32 percent of teens who shopped in stores with hidden tobacco products were aware that they were for sale, compared with 85 percent of those who shopped in stores with visible tobacco products.

A new study concludes that parental involvement is more important than the school environment in preventing or limiting children's use of alcohol or marijuana. Researchers evaluated data from more than 10,000 students, parents, teachers and school administrators. They looked at "family social capital"-bonds between parents and children-as well as "school social capital"-a school's ability to provide a positive environment for learning, Science Daily reports.

The researchers found students with high levels of family social capital and low school social capital levels were less likely to have used either marijuana or alcohol, or to have used them less frequently, compared with students with high levels of school social capital and low family social capital.