United States – October 27, 2026 -- Two out of three teens are not drinking alcohol, according to studies cited by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and parents can use that fact to counter the belief that "everyone's doing it." MADD's Power of Parents program offers conversation starters and practical tools for talking with teens about alcohol, drugs and safety.

United States – October 27, 2026 -- Cannabis sold in legal-sale states in 2023 contains 25-90% THC, compared with roughly 2-4% before 1990, so parents who tried it in their youth may be thinking of a very different drug. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is urging parents to update their conversations with teens through its Power of Parents program.

Pennsylvania – October 27, 2026 -- Self-driving cars and in-vehicle prevention technology envisioned under the HALT Drunk Driving Law could keep impaired drivers off the road, says Bob Nulman, a MADD National Ambassador who lost his son to a drunk and drugged driver in 1987.

United States – October 27, 2026 -- Coffee, cold showers and workouts will not lower your blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and only time lets your body clear alcohol, according to guidance from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

Judgment slips before the 0.08% limit

Alcohol can affect your judgment well before you reach the 0.08% legal limit used in most states. Feeling alert does not mean you are safe to drive. Even under the limit, your reaction time and coordination may not be where they need to be behind the wheel.

Texas – October 27, 2026 -- Parents still outrank friends as the biggest influence on teens' decisions. In the 2022 MADD Parent & Teen Perceptions Survey, 60% of teens named their parents, while 23% named friends.

United States – October 19, 2026 -- Parents should be able to install third-party safety software on every social media platform and device operating system, argues Marc Berkman, CEO of the Organization for Social Media Safety, after two months of damaging press about children's exposure to harmful content.

United States – October 19, 2026 -- Parents can cut the risk of teen drug poisoning by setting app permissions, locking down privacy settings and talking openly about fentanyl, according to the Organization for Social Media Safety. The group says its own testing found it takes about three minutes to connect with a drug dealer on social media and receive a "menu" of drugs for sale.

United States – October 19, 2026 -- The anonymous messaging app NGL has passed 15 million installs in recent weeks, and a child-safety advisory now urges parents to keep their kids away from such apps.

Anonymous messages have been linked to teen deaths

These apps let users message others without revealing who they are. The advisory says that ability is exploited by people who want to cyberbully, defraud, or molest.

Novato, Calif. – October 19, 2026 -- More than 31 million Americans live with eczema, and during October the National Eczema Association (NEA) is giving them a free national data report and a set of video stories to see, share and discuss.

Eczema Awareness Month 2026 is built around the theme "State of Eczema." Since Oct. 1, NEA has asked people with eczema and their caregivers a two-part question: what is it like to live with eczema, and what does it take to get good care?

Tooele – October 19, 2026 -- A routine dental exam does more than look for cavities: according to a HelloNation article featuring Dr. Landon B. Rockwell of Rosewood Family Dentistry in Tooele, Utah, it can catch problems before you notice any symptoms.

Exams check teeth, gums, and surrounding tissues

Dental professionals look for early signs of decay and inflammation. They also check for enamel wear and grinding damage. Enamel is the outer defense against decay and sensitivity, so spotting early wear helps protect it.