Archive for adolescent medicine
Will people accept a fentanyl vaccine? Interviews draw thoughtful responses
In 2022, more than 100,000 people died from opioid overdoses in the U.S., according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Roughly three quarters of these deaths involved fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid. Fentanyl-related deaths have spiked over the past decade, many of them occurring in people with no known history of opioid use ... Read More about Will people accept a fentanyl vaccine? Interviews draw thoughtful responses
Brain wiring predicted adolescents’ emotional health during COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic was emotionally devastating for many adolescents, disrupting their schooling and social/emotional development. Drawing on national data, a large study finds that how adolescents’ brains were wired — before COVID-19 — predicted their stress, negative emotions, and overall mental health during the height of the pandemic, making them more vulnerable or more resilient. ... Read More about Brain wiring predicted adolescents’ emotional health during COVID
BMI and the adolescent brain: A concerning connection
We all know that obesity is a growing epidemic in children and adults. A large national study now finds that preteens carrying excess weight have notable differences in cognitive performance, brain structures, and brain circuitry when compared to preteens with normal body-mass index (BMI). Funded by the National Science Foundation’s Harnessing the Data Revolution initiative, ... Read More about BMI and the adolescent brain: A concerning connection
Researchers look for ways to start puberty ‘on time’
Children who experience early puberty or delayed puberty may be at risk of having shortened height as adults. They may also feel emotionally unprepared for the changes of puberty, and may feel self-conscious or experience social anxieties as a result. To address this challenge, Boston Children’s researchers are trying to further the study of an important genetic player in ... Read More about Researchers look for ways to start puberty ‘on time’
Explaining endometriosis: What parents and teens should know
People with uteruses know that menstruation can bring cramps, general discomfort, mood swings, and other symptoms each month. But, just how much discomfort and pain is normal during your period? For more insights on severe period pain — and endometriosis in particular — we spoke with Dr. Jessica Shim in the Division of Gynecology and ... Read More about Explaining endometriosis: What parents and teens should know
Talking with – not at – young people about substance use
Teens and young adults using drugs and alcohol is not new. Neither is the challenge of speaking with them about the dangers and implications. However, what is changing are the substances young people are using and the ways they’re exposed to them. We’re also learning more about how drugs, alcohol, and nicotine affect growing bodies ... Read More about Talking with – not at – young people about substance use
Four ways to support your teen’s mental health
Being a teen is hard enough, but with the current adolescent mental health crisis, parents should know about the psychosocial challenges — from stress to suicidal thoughts — teens face nowadays. We spoke with Nanci Ginty Butler, LICSW, director of Mental Health Services in the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Boston Children’s ... Read More about Four ways to support your teen’s mental health
Out of balance: How hormones can affect your child’s period
If your tween or teen is experiencing irregular periods, they aren’t alone. In the first two years after getting a period, you should expect fluctuation in cycle length and the number of days their period lasts. However, there are period symptoms that go beyond what makes a “normal” irregular period. If your child’s period hasn’t ... Read More about Out of balance: How hormones can affect your child’s period
COVID-19’s devastating toll: An increase in adolescent suicides and mental health crises
The past decade has seen worrisome increases in self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among adolescents. Two new studies from Boston Children’s Hospital show that the situation became even more acute with the onset of COVID-19. Epidemiologist Maimuna Majumder, PhD, and colleagues at the Computational Health Informatics Program (CHIP) at Boston Children’s partnered with public health ... Read More about COVID-19’s devastating toll: An increase in adolescent suicides and mental health crises
Ways to keep kids engaged and unplugged during the holidays
The winter holiday break is upon us. This means being away from routines and schedules and more time at home, traveling, or visiting loved ones. Bottom line: families will be spending more time together (again). So, how can we find ways to put down our phones and engage in the yuletide cheer together? Join in ... Read More about Ways to keep kids engaged and unplugged during the holidays