Reports on survey of parents and their feelings about whether they can influence their children to shun drugs.  From the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Covers alcohol use, cigarette smoking, leisure-time physical activity, body mass index, and sleep among U.S. adults to monitor the prevalence of key health behaviors.  From the National Center for Health Statistics

Offers recommendations for alleviating the problem of substance-impaired driving, including reducing the blood alcohol concentration level for all drivers, conducting high-visibility enforcement of impaired driving laws, and incorporating passive alcohol sensing technology into enforcement efforts.  From the National Transportation Safety Board

Reviews the progress made over the past four years and proposes a continuation of health and safety initiatives such as substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery.  From the Office of National Drug Control Policy

Describes the prevalence and trend of abuse of prescription drugs and the types of drugs being abused by characteristics of the counties, whether rural, urban, or urbanized but non-metropolitan.  From the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

8-1 Supreme Court decision that warrants are usually required before uncooperative drivers can be forced to submit to a blood-alcohol test.  The justices were divided on how to define the circumstances which would allow testing without a warrant.  From the Cornell Legal Information Institute

In 3 parts: a table of child well-being in 29 of the world’s advanced economies, what children say about their own well-being, and changes in child well-being over the first decade of the 2000s.  From UNICEF

Summarizes the Washington and Colorado marijuana legalization laws and evaluates whether they may be preempted by the federal Controlled Substances Act or international agreements. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Declares that the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs should see that their systems have sufficient capacity to provide for the needs of returning service members and their families and reduce the stigma associated with getting care for mental health and substance abuse problems.  From the Institute of Medicine of the National Research Council

Finds that mental disorders accounted for the largest number of inpatient hospital stays and emergency treatment visits by homeless people.  This report compares patient characteristics, insurance coverage, and conditions treated during hospital stays and visits by racial/ethnic groups for homeless and non-homeless patients.  From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Provides information about the symptoms of alcohol poisoning and the effects of blood alcohol content (BAC) on the body.  From the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Describes the historically unprecedented increase in the federal prison population and the reasons for this increase: drug and immigration offenses, and the abolition of parole.  Also examines the issues that accompany the great rise in the prison population including rising costs, staffing, facility deterioration, and overcrowding.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Presents state estimates of nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers.  Western states had the highest rate of misuse which is considered second only to marijuana as the most prevalent illicit drug problem in the U.S.  From the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Reports that binge drinking results in 23,000 deaths annually in women and girls.  Also provides links to further information and features.   From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Updates estimates for 15 selected health measures including health insurance, availability of medical care, obesity, vaccination, smoking and alcohol consumption, psychological distress, and more.  From the National Center for Health Statistics

Lists conclusions and recommendations from a study (to be released soon) of accidents caused by drivers traveling the wrong way on high-speed divided highways.  Finds driver impairment, primarily from alcohol, as a major cause of such accidents.  From the National Transportation Safety Board

32,367 people were killed in U.S. motor vehicle traffic accidents in 2011, the lowest number since 1949.  Also provides fatality rate and injury rate trends over the years and such characteristics as crash type, crash location, use of seat belts, and involvement of alcohol.  From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Estimates that 26% of persons aged 12 to 20 drank alcohol in the past month.  State rates of underage use of alcohol were lowest in Utah and highest in Vermont.  From the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Reports results of an investigation into the amount of energy drinks consumed by troops and the effects on their mission performance.   From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Examines caloric contribution of alcoholic beverages among adults 20 and over during 2007-2010.  Finds that U.S. adults consume an average of about 100 calories per day from alcoholic beverages.  From the National Center for Health Statistics

Reviews the federal government’s authority to enact the federal criminal prohibition on marijuana; highlights certain principles of federalism that prevent the federal government from forcing the states to enforce the federal prohibition; considers whether state authorization and regulation of medical marijuana are preempted by federal law; and assesses what obligations the Justice Department has to prosecute violations of federal laws on marijuana.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Press release which describes results of campaign to reduce teen drinking and driving.  From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Statistics on the use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco by the U.S. population aged 12 and over.  Covers marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and more.  From the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Updates estimates for 15 selected health measures including health insurance, availability of medical care, obesity, vaccination, smoking and alcohol consumption, psychological distress and more.  From the National Center for Health Statistics

Examines current trends in substance use disorders among active-duty military and what can be done to alleviate the problem.  From the Institute of Medicine

4,280 pedestrians were killed and some 70,000 injured in traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2010, an increase of 4% from 2009, but a decrease of 13% from 2001.  Also provides characteristics of accidents and victims, alcohol involvement, and state level data.   From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Studies survey data to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of women who use alcohol while pregnant.   From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Information about alcohol misuse, how to determine when use becomes abuse, and how to identify and provide counseling for abusers.  From the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Reviews recent scientific biomarker data, revises 2006 Substance Abuse Treatment Advisory, and discusses the relevance of biomarkers for clinical, medical, and forensic purposes.  From the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Reports that first-time use for substances peaks during summer months for adolescents whether the substances used are alcohol, marijuana, or cigarettes.  From the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration