Sunday Reading

Energy drinks and alcohol can be deadly to our teens. Warn your kids bout “Ecstasy in a can.”

With summer jobs hard to find, some teens have turned to Second Life to make money. They can sell virtual goods online and make real money right from their couch.

Is 11th grade the most difficult year for ambitious high schoolers? “More than half the students reported that they had dropped an activity or hobby they enjoyed because schoolwork took too much time. More than three-quarters reported experiencing one or more stress-related physical problems in the month prior to the survey, with more than 50% reporting headaches, difficulty sleeping, or exhaustion. About 9% said they had illegally used prescription drugs like Adderall or Ritalin to stay up and study; 25% said they used stimulants like Red Bull or No-Doz.”

According to a new study, teens are not engaging in oral sex to preserve their virginity. In reality teens are becoming sexual active in multiple ways at the same time. “The analysis of a federal survey of more than 2,200 males and females aged 15 to 19, released yesterday, found that more than half reported having had oral sex. But those who described themselves as virgins were far less likely to say they had tried it than those who had had intercourse.”

Some school are experimenting with healthier snacks in vending machines. It’s a start, but we could do better. Dr. Robyn Silverman gives us some tips on how to make a change.

Sixth graders are having sex in school. And videotaping it.