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Good parenting
can neutralize genetic substance-abuse risk

Parents already know that they can play Youth with this genetic risk factor were a big role in helping their children avoid evaluated according to the degree of substance abuse. But for kids with a ge- parental involvement. The link between netic predisposition to drug use, the role genetic risk and substance use was of good parenting was less clear—until nonexistent among youth whose parents now. A new University of Georgia study provided high levels of involvement and concludes that the association between support. However, among youth who genetic risk and received low levels of such substance abuse parenting, the link between can be “greatly genetic risk and substance use reduced” by “high was three times as high. levels of involved The study’s authors define and supportive involved parenting as including parenting.” spending time, communicating

The new study, with, and providing emotional the first to examine how genetic risk and support to one’s children, as well as helping environment together influence youth with daily needs such as homework. behavior over time, focused on a gene called To learn more, see www.uga.edu/news/art 5HT T, which is involved in transporting the man/publish/ 090210_GeneticRisk.shtml. brain chemical serotonin. Most people carry The study, “Parenting Moderates a two copies of the long version of the gene, Genetic Vulnerability Factor in Longitudi-but those with one or two copies of the nal Increases in Youths’ Substance Abuse,” short version have been shown to be more by Gene H. Brody et al., was published in likely to consume alcohol and other drugs, the February 2009 issue of the Journal of and to take more risks and behave more Consulting and Clinical Psychology. impulsively.

—L. A.

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Go easy on the back

If the sight of hunched children teetering one side and can lead under enormous, heavy backpacks makes to low-back pain and you fear for the health of their backs, you’re muscle spasms in the in good company. The American Chiropractic shoulders and neck. Association (ACA) warns that, indeed, children’s Use both straps. backs can be injured by backpacks, and strongly

• Go for backpacks
recommends following these guidelines:
with lots of compart-
• Make sure your child’s backpack weighs
ments, which enable
no more than 5 to 10 percent of his or
more even weight
her body weight. If he or she has to lean
distribution, and look for
forward to support the backpack, it weighs
wide, padded straps.
too much and is putting undue strain on • Avoid large packs, which
the shoulders and neck. increase the likelihood of
• It may be fashionable to carry backpacks
overloading.

low on the back, but this, too, puts exces- • If your child’s backpack still poses problems, sive strain on the shoulders; packs should don’t hesitate to talk to his or her teacher never hang more than four inches below about reducing the load. the waistline. Cinch the shoulder straps so

For more information, see www.acatoday.com/
that the pack hugs the back snugly.
content_css.cfm?CID= 65.

• Another kid-fashion faux pas is using only one strap, which puts all the weight on —L . A.