Can social networking and technological trends affect our intimate social time?

[Jody]

Yes, teens are getting addicted and social networking is tied to teen drug and alcohol use.

Teens on social networking sites may be more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and use drugs according to columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA).

5X more likely to use tobacco
3X more likely to drink alcohol
Twice as likely to use marijuana

70% of teens say they spend from one minute to hours a day on social networking sites

40% say they have seen intoxicated kids images, including some who are passed out, as well as pictures of teens using drugs

9 out of 10 parents don't think social networking raises their teen's risk for drug or alcohol abuse

64% of parents don't monitor what goes on in their teens social networking

Teens who watch "suggestive teen programming" such as Jersey Shore, Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant, Skins, Gossip Girl are more likely to use tobacco, alcohol or marijuana

1 in 5 teens age 12-17 have been cyberbullied. Teens who reported someone posted nasty or embarrassing things about them online are at greater risk of substance abuse