The monumental task of persuading children and adolescents to say “No” to drugs, alcohol and tobacco is being constantly undermined by the $25 billions’ worth of advertising and marketing each year, which has precisely the opposite effect, says the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP adds that children should not be exposed to erectile dysfunction ads before ten at night.

A new AAP policy statement – “Children, Adolescents, Substance Abuse and the Media” – appears in the latest issue of the peer reviewed medical journal Pediatrics.

The policy statement calls for a total ban on all tobacco advertising, restrictions on the advertising of alcoholic drinks, and a ban on erectile dysfunction drug ads before 10pm.

Parents should be wary about letting their children watch PG-13 and R-rated movies and TV programs, the AAP adds. These shows and movies frequently feature substance abuse.

Pediatricians are advised to urge parents to restrict unsupervised media and TV channels which overexpose the viewer to substance abuse.

The White House Office on Drug Control Policy is being called on to start creating and broadcasting anti-smoking and anti-drinking public service announcements.

A study this year found that recurrent teen headaches are linked to smoking, overweight and physical inactivity. (Link)

According to a recent sub-study, part of long-term Nicotine Dependence in Teens (NDIT) study based at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre, University of Toronto and the University of Montreal, professionals discovered that smoking can increase depressive symptoms in teens. (Link)

Although the rate of overall illegal drug use among young people in 2009 remained below 2002 levels, youth use was higher in 2009 compared to 2008 (10.0% of youth in 2009, compared to 9.3% in 2008, versus 11.6% in 2002). The rate of marijuana use in this age group followed a similar pattern, declining from 8.2 percent of young people in 2002, to 6.7 percent in 2006, remaining level until 2008, and then increasing to 7.3 percent in 200. (Link)

“Policy Statement – Children, Adolescents, Substance Abuse, and the Media”
Published online September 27, 2010
PEDIATRICS (doi:10.1542/peds.2010-1635)

Written by Christian Nordqvist