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dangers of abusing Ritalin, Adderall and other prescription drugs, suggests a new study that finds discouraging trends on kids and drug use.
• When teens were asked about the last substance abuse conversation they had with their parents, just 14 percent said they talked about abusing a prescription drug, said the report being released Tuesday by The Partnership at Drugfree.org.
• "For parents, it really comes down to not using the power they have because they don't think this is an immediate problem, meaning their own home, own neighborhood kind of thing," says Steve Pasierb, president of the partnership. "They believe that this is probably a safer way, not as bad as illegal street drugs."
• By comparison, most teens -- 81 percent -- said they have talked about the risks of marijuana use with their parents. Almost the same number said they have discussed alcohol with their parents. Almost one-third said they have talked about crack and cocaine.
• Some parents didn't see a significant risk in teens misusing prescription drugs.
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• LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Reese Witherspoon's professional image is so squeaky clean that she got laughs on a late-night show earlier this year for pretending to buy bottles of cognac and tequila.
• Her recent arrest and admission that she "clearly had one drink too many" could be more damaging to her brand than it might be for someone with a less-wholesome image, experts say, but because she apologized quickly and sincerely, her career is likely to fare just fine.
• "Reese Witherspoon has become successful by positioning herself as America's sweetheart -- a likable, friendly, non-threatening star -- and this fundamentally disrupts that image," said branding expert Dorie Clark, author of "Reinventing You." ''It's far worse for Reese Witherspoon to be arrested (image-wise) than it would be for Lindsay Lohan. ... I think (Witherspoon) understands the severity of the situation and that's why she issued the apology so quickly."
• The 37-year-old Oscar winner was arrested in Atlanta after a state trooper said she wouldn't stay in the car while her husband, Hollywood agent Jim Toth, was arrested and accused of driving under the influence of alcohol.
• "Do you know my name?" Witherspoon is quoted as saying in the trooper's

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