Congratulations Graduates!

There’s been a lot of hard work and perseverance on the part of students and parents.  I hope all of you take pride in your accomplishments and enjoy this moment!  The journey rather than the destination is surely the most fulfilling.  Here I am celebrating with my niece, Hanna in Corpus Christi.  She’s going to major in Business and attend Abilene Christian University in August.

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Major public health concern that may surprise you

Binge drinking is increasing in young people.  While alcohol consumption in general has declined about 2.5% over the past 20 years the rates of binge drinking in youth have jumped.  Kids are taking up drinking at increasingly earlier ages which has caused the OECD to categorize it as a “major public health and social concern.”  Dangerous alcohol consumption by young people is now responsible for more deaths than HIV, AIDS, violence and tuberculosis  combined.  Among boys alcohol consumption has risen from 30% to 43% and among girls it’s increased from 26% to 41%.

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Kids shouldn’t sip

A recent study published in the Journal of Studies of Alcohol and drugs concluded that children who had sipped alcohol by 6th Grade were five times more likely to have a drink by high school and four times more likely to binge drink or get intoxicated.  Evidently allowing our children to taste or try alcohol in our presence sends the wrong message.  Kids are not mature enough to know when drinking is acceptable and when it is not.  Younger adolescents might not know the difference between a sip and having a drink or two.  Some kids are getting the message that drinking alcohol is okay, especially when it is provided by a parent.

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Children’s Mental Health Week in the U.K.

Bravo to Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William for headlining the first Mental Health Week for Children in the U.K.  They are urging greater awareness and care while calling for an end to the stigma around children’s mental health that likely keeps many from seeking help.  What I especially admire is her willingness to say that a child’s mental health is every bit as important as their physical health.  “No one would be embarrassed to seek help for a child with a broken arm.”  She highlighted what I’ve especially found true is that early intervention for childhood problems prevents these from becoming life long or adulthood problems.   The Place2Be charity cites research that says depression has increased by 75% in adolescents over the past 25 years and three children in every classroom have a diagnosable mental health condition.

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