Teenagers and young adults have among the
highest rates of unintended pregnancy and childbearing in the United States
and are among the most likely to contract an STD.  Youth who choose
to be sexually active can lower their risk of unintended pregnancy by using
highly effective contraceptive methods and reduce their risk of STDs by
using condoms consistently and correctly.  However, as shown in a
new Research Brief, Trends
and Recent Estimates: Contraceptive Use Among U.S. Teens and Young Adults,
the increase in contraceptive use seen in the late 1980s and 1990s slowed
substantially in the 2000s, and teens and young adults today still do not
always choose highly effective contraceptive methods and are not perfect
users of condoms.

In this brief, Child Trends provides updated
information on contraceptive use among teens (aged 15-19) and young adults
(aged 20-24) using data from the recently released 2006-2008 National Survey
of Family Growth (NSFG) and the 2002 NSFG.  Child Trends researchers
looked at how respondents answered questions about having ever used contraception;
using it when they first had sex; using it the most recent time they had
sex; and using condoms consistently.  Among the findings:

* Between the 2002 and the 2006-08 data periods,
there was an increase in the percentage of young women who had used newer
hormonal methods (such as the patch or the ring) and long-acting methods
(such as the IUD or implants) at least once.
* In the most recent data period (2006-2008),
almost eight in 10 sexually experienced teen and young adult women reported
having used at least one hormonal or long-acting method-including the Pill,
an injectable (such as Depo-Provera), an IUD or implant, the ring, or the
patch-at least once in their life.
* Between the 2002 and 2006-2008 data periods,
there was an increase in the percentage of young men who used a condom
at most recent sex.
* Teens were more likely than were young adults
to have used a condom at most recent sex (2006-08).
* Use of emergency contraception is on the
rise. The proportion of teen and young adult women who had used emergency
contraception at least once in their life almost doubled from 9 percent
in 2002 to 17 percent in 2006-08.
* Contraceptive use patterns differ by age
and by race/ethnicity.

Read more about this interesting finding in Child Trends by clicking on this link.

The US has released nine(9) graphic images that will be on warning labels of cigarettes. Take a few minutes to check these proposed warning labels out.

Do you think that the use of these pictures might stop someone from smoking? Let us know what you think.

The Jennie-O Turkey Store recalled turkey burgers that may have salmonella. Read more about this food recall.

Newark LINCS Health Alert Network

Public Health Info

Subject: Food Recalls

1. Circle City Marketing and Distributing, doing business as Candy Dynamics, Indianapolis, IN, is issuing a voluntary recall of Toxic Waste® Short CircuitsT Bubble Gum, 3.2 oz (90 g) size, Lot #15070SC12. The product is imported from Pakistan.

A recent test performed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated that Lot #15070SC12 of the 3.2 oz. (90 g) size of the above-listed product contains elevated levels of lead (0.189 parts per million: the FDA tolerance is 0.1 ppm) that potentially could cause health problems, particularly for infants, small children, and pregnant women.

Out of abundance of caution, the company has determined to recall Lot #15070SC12, which was distributed from January 4, 2011 until March 18, 2011.

The product is identified as: Toxic Waste® Short CircuitsT Bubble Gum, (UPC 0 89894 31001 3), 3.2 oz (90 g) size, Lot #15070SC12 (the Lot # is located along the left side of the bag).

No other “Toxic Waste®” brand product or “Short CircuitsT Bubble Gum”, besides Lot #15070SC12 is affected by this recall.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The recalled Short CircuitsT Bubble Gum product was distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail orders. The product was also distributed in limited quantities into Canada and Switzerland.

The company will continue to sell Short CircuitsT Bubble Gum products in the U.S.

Candy Dynamics is sending recall notices to its direct customers. Anyone in possession of the recalled product should telephone the company for information on destruction of the product. Please call Eileen O’Neal at 317-228-5012 (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm EST) for further information.

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2. The Smokehouse LLC of Mamaroneck, New York, is conducting a voluntary recall of PORTIER FINE FOODS Norwegian Smoked Salmon of various size packages including 4 oz., 8 oz., 16 oz. and random weight sizes, Batch Code 066 only, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

PORTIER FINE FOODS Norwegian Smoked Salmon with code 066 was distributed and sold on March 7, 2011 to retailers in NY, NJ, CT.

Batch Code 066 (represents Julian date of March 7, 2011) is located on a white label on the rear of gold boards, which are in clear, vacuum packed packages. This is the only batch code affected. The product was also labeled with an “EXPIRES ON” date of 3/21 (3/21/11). Since the product may be stored frozen, the likelihood exists that the affected code (066) may still be available in consumers’ homes.

Please note that no Listeria illnesses have been linked to any product produced by The Smokehouse LLC.

The recall was the result of a routine sampling by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The company has ceased production and distribution of the product as both the FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.

Consumers who have purchased PORTIER FINE FOODS Norwegian Smoked Salmon with code 066 should not consume it and should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-914-630-4788 Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EDT.

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3. Completely Fresh Foods Inc., a Montebello, Calif., establishment is voluntarily recalling approximately 131,000 pounds of pizza products because they contain an allergen, wheat, not declared on the label. Wheat is a known allergen.

The products subject to recall include:

. 10-oz. packages of “TRADER JOE’S PIZZA AL POLLO ASADO.” (Frozen)

Individual packages bear the establishment number “EST. P-974″ inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on various dates between Jan. 27, 2011 and March 27, 2011 and shipped to Trader Joe’s stores nationwide. The products include one of the following Julian dates embossed on the retail carton:

“02711,” “02811,” “03011,” “03111,” “03311,” “03411,” “03811,” “03911,” “04011,” “04111,” “05211,” “05311,” “05411,” “05511,” “05911,” “06011,” “06111,” “06211,” “06711,” “06811,” “07311,” “07411,” “07511,” “07611,” “08111,” “08211,” “08411,” “08511″ and “08611.”

The problem was discovered by an FSIS inspector at the establishment as part of a routine inspection. The inspector reviewed the spice blend ingredient statement and the finished product label and discovered that wheat, an allergen, was listed in the spice blend, but not declared in the ingredient statement of the finished product label. FSIS and the company, to date, have received no reports of adverse reactions or illnesses due to consumption of these products. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to wheat and are concerned about a reaction should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers.

Consumers with questions about the recall should contact Trader Joe’s customer relations at (626) 599-3817. Media with questions about the recall should contact Alison Mochizuki at (626) 599-3779.

Growing numbers of newborns across the country are struggling with addiction as prescription drug abuse ravages communities. Read this New York Times article about newborns withdrawing from painkillers.

Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health. An educational program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, text4baby provides pregnant women and new moms with information to help them care for their health and give their babies the best possible start in life. Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY to 511411 (or BEBE in Spanish) will receive free SMS text messages each week, timed to their due date or their baby’s date of birth.

Check out Text4baby and share with someone today!

Here is a listing and more information  on Addiction Support Groups in New Jersey.Click here for the AddictionGroups

To see other types of support groups statewide (youth, Spanish-speaking, women’s, etc.):

Listings of support group meetings by county