This year’s national study data on American teens confirms that one in four teens has misused or abused a prescription (Rx) drug at least once in their lifetime – a dramatic 33 percent increase over the past five years. The new data from the Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) also found a significant rise in misuse or abuse of prescription stimulants, with one in eight teens (13 percent) now reporting that they have misused or abused the Rx stimulants Ritalin or Adderall in their lifetime.

Contributing to this disturbing trend in teen medicine misuse and abuse are the lax attitudes of parents and caregivers.  They are missing key opportunities to effectively communicate the dangers of Rx medicine misuse and abuse to their kids, while not safeguarding and disposing of their medications properly at home.

Steve Pasierb, President and CEO of The Partnership at Drugfree.org, added:

“This new data is not about blaming parents. Rather, it’s an urgent call to action for them to use their immense power to help curb this dangerous behavior. It’s about missed opportunities to protect their kids by having direct conversations with them about the health risks of misusing and abusing medicines – and to then moving to safeguard the medicines in their own home. Parental apathy on this issue is contributing to the problem. Yet the same data show year in and year out that kids who learn a lot about the risks of drug use at home are up to half as likely to use as kids who don’t get that life-changing gift from their parents.”

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Friday, May 17
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
YouthZone
803 School Street, Glenwood Springs
Volunteer for any or all of the 5 hoursBring: Your own work gloves.Provided: A light lunch will be served.

Did you know that teens who are connected to their communities take better care of their communities? At YouthZone we work hard to provide opportunities for young people to feel connected and good about the community they live in. That seems simple enough but you may be surprised at the number of kids who don’t know or care what is going on in their own community. Their community can also include their school, church, clubs or sports team. It is so important for youth to feel a part of something bigger than themselves. So as parents, teacher or people who work with youth, make the effort to get your kids connected by volunteering: reaching out to other groups, meeting local business owners and shadowing them for a day, going behind the scene of your local city council, volunteering on a non-profit board … and the list goes on. If you would like to have more information about how to get your child involved call YouthZone at 945-9300.

With the spotlight shining on the critical need for mental health care reform in our country, we must also educate the nation about children’s mental health and promote comprehensive, grass-root efforts to eradicate scrutiny, discrimination and repercussions that deter our children, youth and families in need of care from seeking consistent help.

Our goal is to keep mental health a part of national dialogue 365 days a year. Plans are underway as we develop interactive online and in-print awareness materials that will debunk myths and expose the often unspoken stigmas that plague our families, bringing mental health out of the shadows and into our everyday conversations to improve the health of our nation.

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The 20th Annual Mountain Rider “Turtle” Poker Run will be held Saturday May 18 beginning at 9 a.m. The event began 20 years ago to honor Stella “Turtle” Tucker who was killed at an early age by a drunk driver. This is a motorcycle event; however, you are welcome to drive your car if you desire. The event begins in the parking lot of Motorcycle Accessories in Grand Junction. Participants will ride to New Castle. $10 per person, includes barbeque. Extra hands can be purchased for $5 each. A barbeque will be held at noon in Apple Tree Park for all participants. There will also be a raffle and prizes at the park. All proceeds will benefit YouthZone. The event is sponsored by Mountain Riders, Motorcycle Accessories and Women in the Wind-Wind Dancer’s Chapter.

Have conflicting media reports left you confused about the best sunscreen? Or wondering whether you should use sunscreen at all

What’s the best way to sort through the details on sunscreens?

Start by looking beyond the topic of best sunscreen. Get back to the bigger picture, which is protecting yourself from the sun. Here are three main things to keep in mind:

• Avoid the sun during peak hours. Generally, this is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. — regardless of season. These are prime hours for exposure to skin-damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, even on overcast days.
• Wear protective clothing. This includes pants, shirts with long sleeves, and sunglasses. Top it off with a wide-brimmed hat. In addition, consider investing in special sun-protective clothing for golf, gardening, walking, running — even swimming.
• Use sunscreen. Liberal use of sunscreen is a key part of any program to protect yourself from the sun.

What does the term ‘broad spectrum’ mean when applied to sunscreens?

There are two types of UV light that can harm your skin — UVA and UVB. A broad-spectrum, or full-spectrum, sunscreen is designed to protect you from both.

UVA rays can penetrate deeply into your skin and suppress your immune system. This increases the risk of wrinkling and age spots. UVB rays can burn your skin. Too much exposure to both UVA and UVB rays raises your risk of skin tumors, including a form of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. The best sunscreen offers protection from all UV light.

Does the best sunscreen also have the highest SPF?

SPF stands for sun protection factor, which is a measure of how well the sunscreen deflects UVB rays. Currently, there’s no standard for measuring UVA protection.

Manufacturers calculate SPF based on how long it takes to sunburn skin that’s been treated with the sunscreen as compared with skin that hasn’t been treated with sunscreen. Theoretically, the best sunscreen has the highest SPF number. Many dermatologists recommend using a product with an SPF of 30 or more. However, no one really agrees on a “good” SPF number. A sunscreen with an SPF of 60 might be better than one with an SPF of 30, but not necessarily — and the SPF 60 product isn’t likely to be twice as effective as the SPF 30 product.

To understand this, remember how sunscreen is typically used. It might not be applied thoroughly or thickly enough, and it might be perspired away or washed off while swimming. All this can make even the best sunscreen less effective than the SPF number on the bottle would lead you to believe.

Are spray sunscreens better than other types of sunscreen?

You can use sunscreen that comes in any form: spray, lotion, cream, wax stick or powder. Your choice is a matter of personal preference and which area of the body you’re covering. If you have dry skin, you might prefer a cream — especially for your face. A gel or spray might work better for areas covered with hair, such as the scalp.

Which sunscreen ingredients are best?

To ensure broad-spectrum protection, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends sunscreens with any of the following ingredients:

• Avobenzone
• Cinoxate
• Ecamsule
• Menthyl anthranilate
• Octyl methoxycinnamate
• Octyl salicylate
• Oxybenzone
• Sulisobenzone

You might encounter warnings that sunscreens with oxybenzone can irritate your skin, especially if you’re sensitive to skin care products. However, a recent analysis of 64 studies indicates that sunscreens with 1 to 6 percent oxybenzone don’t pose a significant risk of skin sensitization or irritation for most people.

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