Study: Teen Online Talk Largely About Drugs, Sex
Alarming Statistic Should Be Call To Arms For Parents
(CBS) NEW YORK Parents who think their teens' online conversations with peers are innocent may want to reconsider. A new study shows 1 in 10 of their messages discuss drugs or sex. The messages are posted on common online message boards.
"'Crunked' is like the cool way of saying 'I got drunk,'" said 19-year-old Lucky O'Donnell. "'Scag' is one of the harder ones to figure out and that's heroin." O'Donnell knows the risks all too well. He went online to find out where to get cocaine. He's now in recovery.
"Mostly it was, where are we going to meet up to get it," he said in reference to scoring some cocaine. A new study by Caron Treatment Centers finds 1 in 10 messages analyzed involved teens seeking advice from their peers on how to take illicit drugs "safely" and without getting caught.
One reads: "Let's go candy flipping tonight" -- another term for using ecstasy.
The study also found several other messages pertaining to sexual activity.
"All these terms are ways to get around the eye of people who may be monitoring your conversations," O'Donnell said.
Then there's the online lingo for marijuana. There's "420," "51" and "A-Bomb." Experts say most parents have never heard of them. One other term mentioned frequently, "pre-game." It describes the practice of getting drunk before parties. In the messages, teens confessed to destructive behavior while they were under the influence.
"It's very, very frightening," said Dr. Harris Stratyner of the Caron Treatment Center.
In the messages, while few teens expressed any regret, many chalked it up to having a good time.
"A tremendous amount of talk about hooking up, bigger and better highs," Stratyner said.
As for advice for parents, you may want to crack down hard on your child's online activities.
"Everybody wants to trust their child, but sometimes children aren't to be trusted," O'Donnell said.
So "PAW" -- parents are watching -- may be just what teenagers need.
http://wcbstv.com/seenon/local_story_171170917.html
Alarming Statistic Should Be Call To Arms For Parents
(CBS) NEW YORK Parents who think their teens' online conversations with peers are innocent may want to reconsider. A new study shows 1 in 10 of their messages discuss drugs or sex. The messages are posted on common online message boards.
"'Crunked' is like the cool way of saying 'I got drunk,'" said 19-year-old Lucky O'Donnell. "'Scag' is one of the harder ones to figure out and that's heroin." O'Donnell knows the risks all too well. He went online to find out where to get cocaine. He's now in recovery.
"Mostly it was, where are we going to meet up to get it," he said in reference to scoring some cocaine. A new study by Caron Treatment Centers finds 1 in 10 messages analyzed involved teens seeking advice from their peers on how to take illicit drugs "safely" and without getting caught.
One reads: "Let's go candy flipping tonight" -- another term for using ecstasy.
The study also found several other messages pertaining to sexual activity.
"All these terms are ways to get around the eye of people who may be monitoring your conversations," O'Donnell said.
Then there's the online lingo for marijuana. There's "420," "51" and "A-Bomb." Experts say most parents have never heard of them. One other term mentioned frequently, "pre-game." It describes the practice of getting drunk before parties. In the messages, teens confessed to destructive behavior while they were under the influence.
"It's very, very frightening," said Dr. Harris Stratyner of the Caron Treatment Center.
In the messages, while few teens expressed any regret, many chalked it up to having a good time.
"A tremendous amount of talk about hooking up, bigger and better highs," Stratyner said.
As for advice for parents, you may want to crack down hard on your child's online activities.
"Everybody wants to trust their child, but sometimes children aren't to be trusted," O'Donnell said.
So "PAW" -- parents are watching -- may be just what teenagers need.
http://wcbstv.com/seenon/local_story_171170917.html
