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Underage drinking a major concern by Deborah Deas, M.D. Institute of Psychiatry For more information on adolescent alcohol use disorders, visit the Wellness Wednesday booth from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 26 in the Children’s Hospital lobby.   Underage drinking is a major problem in the United States. In 2004, more than 10 million persons aged 12-20 reported drinking alcohol, and more than seven million of those individuals were binge drinkers (consuming five or more drinks in one sitting). Often, alcohol use disorders are not recognized in adolescents because of the nature of their drinking patterns. Most adolescents and young adults consume alcohol infrequently but in large quantities.   Treatment of alcohol use disorders in adolescents  is critical because the earlier age of first time use, the greater likelihood of developing alcohol dependence. Treatments include psychosocial treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy in an individual or group setting. Naltrexone is a medication approved for treatment in adults. Preliminary data has shown that it is also effective in decreasing alcohol consumption and craving in adolescents.   At the MUSC Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs, a treatment study for adolescents/young adults aged 15-25 with alcohol abuse/dependence will look at the use of Naltrexone, weekly individualized cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, and monitoring by a child/adolescent psychiatrist as a treatment for adolescent alcohol use disorders. Participation is free.   More information can be found at http://www.musc.edu/asap or call 876-5070. Weekly tips from the Healthy S.C. Challenge Healthy South Carolina Challenge is a results-oriented initiative created by Gov. Mark Sanford and first lady Jenny Sanford to motivate people to start making choices to improve health and well-being. Visit http://www.healthysc.gov. Physical Activity   Swimming is an excellent way to exercise during the summer months. Strokes such as the backstroke or doggie paddling still count as aerobic exercise. Tobacco   When trying to quit, you can use a relapse as an excuse to go back to smoking, or you can look at what went wrong and renew your commitment to quitting. Editor's note: The preceding column was brought to you on behalf of Health First. Striving to bring various topics and representing numerous employee wellness organizations and committees on campus, this weekly column seeks to provide MUSC, MUHA, and UMA employees with current and helpful information concerning all aspects of health.     Friday, July 21, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.