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The “reward hub”, which is involved in addiction, was larger in the brains of people who regularly play computer games versus  those of infrequent gamers, research suggests. However, it remains unclear whether frequent use of the games changed the brain or if brain differences made people more likely to play: http://www.nature.com/tp/journal/v1/n11/full/tp201153a.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15720178 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2061983/Teenage-video-game-players-brains-like-gambling-addicts.html?ITO=1490

This article discusses the importance of parents avoiding their smartphones when at home: http://www.necn.com/11/14/11/Parents-Put-down-the-smart-phone/landing.html?blockID=593700&feedID=4213

A dangerous new trend among teens: http://z6mag.com/offbeat/vodka-tampons-butt-chugging-growing-trend-with-teenagers-162840.html And a well written article about how stories about such new trends should be approached with skepticism: http://www.cracked.com/blog/a-letter-to-parents-about-fake-teen-crazes-news/

In St. Louis, AT&T (News – Alert) recently launched a campaign to raise awareness about the risks of texting and driving. And Major League Baseball’s superstar Albert Pujols joined AT&T in this important public safety initiative: http://unified-messaging.tmcnet.com/topics/unified-messaging/articles/237864-att-launches-campaign-st-louis-remind-teenagers-texting.htm And an article on how to talk to teens about not using cell phones when driving: http://central-pennsylvania.injuryboard.com/automobile-accidents/how-to-talk-with-your-teenager-about-distracted-driving.aspx?googleid=295808 And the […]

A Florida law that restricts doctors from talking to patients and their parents about guns endangers open communication between doctors and patients, Children’s Hospital of Boston Dr. Fleegler says in a just-published American Journal of Preventive Medicine report.: http://bostonherald.com/blogs/news/the_pulse/?p=199