The Chatterbox

The Chatterbox

News and views from the staff of FamilyEducation.
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April 25, 2012
Teens Resort to Hand Sanitizer to Get Drunk
With prom season upon us, teen drinking is a topic on many parent's minds. And while most parents might keep an eye on their liquor cabinet to prevent any alcohol from disappearing during any pre- or post-prom parties, there is another product teens are using to get drunk, and it's not that hard for them to get their hands on it. Hand sanitizer. So far, six teens have ended up in the emergency room with alcohol poisoning from drinking it. Admittedly, when I first saw this on the news, I had visions of teens just squeezing it directly into their mouths right from the bottle. But...
Alcohol, Hand Sanitizer, Teen Drinking, Teen Drug Use
April 20, 2012
Seattle Breaking Ground for Self-Sustaining Forest
In honor of Earth Day on Sunday, I wanted to give props to Seattle for their most recent project-- building a massive, edible forest just outside the city, free to the public. Yes you read that right-- Massive. Edible Forest. Free! The city has already broken ground on the dedicated 7 acres of land just 2.5 miles outside of Seattle. Among the trees that will be planted are apple, pear, permisson, chestnut, and walnut, and will be availble to all Seattle residents and visitors, both human and otherwise. The hope is for the forest to eventually become completely self-sustaining. Although it...
Earth Day, Going green, Seattle, self-sustaining forest
April 12, 2012
Prescriptions to Be Required for Use of Antibiotics on Livestock
For over 35 years, antibiotics have been used on livestock by ranchers and farmers. Low doses of these drugs over a long period of time help the animals grow larger. Bigger= more meat= good for everyone, right? Not quite. Using small amounts of antibiotics over long periods creates strains of bacteria that are resistant to the drugs’ effects. Humans who become infected with these strains cannot be treated with routine antibiotic therapy. Tens of thousands of people die each year from antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. While it's unclear how many of these strains come from...
antibiotics, disease resistance, FDA, livestock