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SAGE WALK - THE WILDERNESS SCHOOL
SageWalk is an innovative and challenging option to traditional adolescent drug and alcohol rehabilitation. SageWalk does not push one theory; rather they take an eclectic approach to adolescent addiction treatment. Treatment approaches are up therapeutic and they do not engage in harsh confrontation like at boot camps.
Teens Buy One-Fourth of Alcohol Consumed in the United States
Parents often believe that television shows depicting teenagers drinking alcoholic beverages are unrealistic. However, it may be the parents who are unrealistic about their children's lifestyles, according to research from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.
Shows like "Gossip Girl" which features wealthy teenagers drinking vodka at Manhattan bars may be accurately reflecting current lifestyles.
The U.S. Surgeon General reports that one-fourth of beer and alcohol sold in this country goes to underage drinkers.
Although the percentage of American teenagers using drugs and alcohol has gone down in the past five years, the numbers who smoke, drink or use drugs is still in the hundreds of thousands.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in conjunction with a survey of 60,000 people by the National Survey on Drug Use released a new report this week. The report notes that on any given day in the United States:
- 1.2 million teens smoke (4,000 for the first time);
- 631,000 drink (8,000 for the first time);
- 586,000 use marijuana (3,600 for the first time);
- 50,000 use inhalants;
- 27,000 use hallucinogens;
- 13,000 use cocaine; and
- 3,800 use heroin.
Dr. Norman Constantin, program director of the Public Health Institute's Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development in Berkeley, California, said, "Alcohol is a reality in the lives of young Americans. Our drinking age of 21 eliminates the opportunity for parents to legally teach safe drinking to teenagers. This missed opportunity can lead to unsafe and immoderate drinking, especially on college campuses. Most teens benefit from being taught how not to drink, together with how to drink safely and moderately when and if they do drink. Both skills are critically important."
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