Health News
Childhood obesity and drug abuse are the top two worries for children. Those were the results of a University of Michigan poll that asked people to rate 23 different health concerns for kids living in their communities. When it came to obesity and drug abuse, 33 percent of people rated them as being the biggest problems, research-reporting service Newswise reports.
- Fewer Teens Report Using Tobacco And Abusing Prescription Drugs, But Some Attribute Latter Trend To Increase In Heroin Use
By Melissa Patrick and Melissa Landon Kentucky Health News Fewer Kentucky teenagers said last year that they used prescription drugs without a doctor's direction, or tobacco, than in the last such survey. But some addiction experts worry that prescription-drug...
- Most Kentucky Adults Don't Know That Drug Overdose Is The Leading Cause Of Death In The State, But Those In The East Do
Drug overdoses, driven largely by prescription drug abuse, overtook motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of unintentional deaths in Kentucky back in 2010 and remain the state's leading cause of death. From 2000 to 2010, the number of drug-overdose...
- 4 Of 5 Kentuckians Think Child Obesity Is A Problem, And More Than Half Favor A Statewide Smoking Ban, Poll Finds
More than four out of five Kentuckians think too many children are overweight, and more than half want a statewide smoking ban. These are two of key findings of the Kentucky Health Issues Poll, which also asked respondents about prescription drug abuse,...
- September Is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
September has been proclaimed national Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, with President Obama asking Americans to "take action by learning about and engaging in activities that promote healthy eating and greater physical activity by all our nation's...
- Parents Should Talk To Children About Drugs And Alcohol Often, And Firmly, But Spend More Time Listening
Talking about drugs and alcohol often, and when children are at a young age, are two of the best things parents can do to prevent substance abuse by teenagers. "As much as parents want to be the 'anti-drug,' as media campaigns encourage, the...
Health News
Drug abuse, obesity are top two concerns for children's health, poll finds
Childhood obesity and drug abuse are the top two worries for children. Those were the results of a University of Michigan poll that asked people to rate 23 different health concerns for kids living in their communities. When it came to obesity and drug abuse, 33 percent of people rated them as being the biggest problems, research-reporting service Newswise reports.In 2007, 37 percent of Kentucky children were either obese or overweight, Childhood Obesity Action Network numbers show. Drug abuse, particularly of prescription pills and methamphetamine, is likewise a notable problem in Kentucky.
Smoking and tobacco use came in third place, followed by teen pregnancy, bullying, Internet safety, stress, alcohol abuse, driving accidents and sexting. Internet safety and sexting are new to the top 10 list.
"The perception of drug abuse as a big problem matches recent national data showing increasing use of marijuana and other drugs by U.S. teens," said Matthew Davis, director of the National Poll on Children's Health.
"Meanwhile, although obesity remains at the top of the list of child health concerns for the fourth straight year, the level of public concern has declined over the last few years in our poll," Davis said. "This may be a warning to public health officials, because it indicates how the public is hearing national messages that previous increases in children's obesity rates have recently leveled off." (Read more)
- Fewer Teens Report Using Tobacco And Abusing Prescription Drugs, But Some Attribute Latter Trend To Increase In Heroin Use
By Melissa Patrick and Melissa Landon Kentucky Health News Fewer Kentucky teenagers said last year that they used prescription drugs without a doctor's direction, or tobacco, than in the last such survey. But some addiction experts worry that prescription-drug...
- Most Kentucky Adults Don't Know That Drug Overdose Is The Leading Cause Of Death In The State, But Those In The East Do
Drug overdoses, driven largely by prescription drug abuse, overtook motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of unintentional deaths in Kentucky back in 2010 and remain the state's leading cause of death. From 2000 to 2010, the number of drug-overdose...
- 4 Of 5 Kentuckians Think Child Obesity Is A Problem, And More Than Half Favor A Statewide Smoking Ban, Poll Finds
More than four out of five Kentuckians think too many children are overweight, and more than half want a statewide smoking ban. These are two of key findings of the Kentucky Health Issues Poll, which also asked respondents about prescription drug abuse,...
- September Is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
September has been proclaimed national Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, with President Obama asking Americans to "take action by learning about and engaging in activities that promote healthy eating and greater physical activity by all our nation's...
- Parents Should Talk To Children About Drugs And Alcohol Often, And Firmly, But Spend More Time Listening
Talking about drugs and alcohol often, and when children are at a young age, are two of the best things parents can do to prevent substance abuse by teenagers. "As much as parents want to be the 'anti-drug,' as media campaigns encourage, the...