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Wednesday, June 20, 2007

TEENS ONLINE CHAT ABOUT DRUGS, SEX

Jun 20, 2007 7:48 pm US/Eastern

Study: Teen Online Chats Largely About Drugs, Sex

Alarming Statistic Should Be Call To Arms For Parents

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Mary Calvi / Reporting

Teens Flirt With Danger On Chat Sites


(CBS) NEW YORK Parents who think their teens' online conversations with peers are innocent may want to reconsider. A new study shows 1 in 10 of their messages discuss drugs or sex.

The messages are posted on common online message boards.

"'Crunked' is like the cool way of saying 'I got drunk,'" said 19-year-old Lucky O'Donnell. "'Scag' is one of the harder ones to figure out and that's heroin."

O'Donnell knows the risks all too well. He went online to find out where to get cocaine. He's now in recovery.

"Mostly it was, where are we going to meet up to get it," he said in reference to scoring some cocaine.


A new study by Caron Treatment Centers finds 1 in 10 messages analyzed involved teens seeking advice from their peers on how to take illicit drugs "safely" and without getting caught.

One reads: "Let's go candy flipping tonight" -- another term for using ecstasy.

The study also found several other messages pertaining to sexual activity.

"All these terms are ways to get around the eye of people who may be monitoring your conversations," O'Donnell said.

Then there's the online lingo for marijuana. There's "420," "51" and "A-Bomb." Experts say most parents have never heard of them. One other term mentioned frequently, "pre-game." It describes the practice of getting drunk before parties.

In the messages, teens confessed to destructive behavior while they were under the influence.

"It's very, very frightening," said Dr. Harris Stratyner of the Caron Treatment Center.

In the messages, while few teens expressed any regret, many chalked it up to having a good time.

"A tremendous amount of talk about hooking up, bigger and better highs," Stratyner said.

As for advice for parents, you may want to crack down hard on your child's online activities.

"Everybody wants to trust their child, but sometimes children aren't to be trusted," O'Donnell said.

So "PAW" -- parents are watching -- may be just what teenagers need.

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Mary Calvi

Anchor

Mary Calvi serves as anchor for CBS 2's weekend evening newscasts.

Award-winning journalist Mary Calvi has provided live breaking news reports on a wide range of stories across the tri-state area. Calvi gained unprecendented access to the FBI's underwater anti-terrorism team and reported from underwater. She actually found a missing grandmother lost in the Blackout of 2003. She also travelled to Rome to cover the events surrounding Pope John Paul II. Calvi had also provided coverage on the attacks at the World Trade Center, in 2001 and in 1993.

Calvi's credits include three Emmy awards, two for her live breaking news coverage, and the other for an in-depth series on sexual pedophiles, "Predator Next Door.”

Calvi has been honored for her writing at the New York Festival's World Media Awards. She also earned a National ACE Award for Excellence in Journalism, a Clarion Award for Excellence in Reporting, and the ACIM Award for Excellence in Community Service.

She joined WCBS-TV in 2002 from News 12 Westchester where she served as anchor and assistant news director. She also worked with News 12 Long Island and served as a national correspondent for USA Networks. She began her career in New York in radio.

Calvi graduated magna cum laude from the S.I. Newhouse School at Syracuse University with a degree in journalism. A native of Westchester County, Calvi lives in her hometown with her husband and their three children.
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Source: http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_171170917.html

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