Teenage Issues in America While Many Parents

Teenage Issues in America

While many parents would like to believe that teenage culture in the United States is just about hanging out with friends, movies and fun, statistics reveal that teenage issues, such as alcohol and drug abuse, violence and sexual orientation, are one of the most critical problems in America (Sound Vision, 2003). The following statistics, while not representative of every teenager, demonstrate the extent of these problems.

Teenage sexual orientation has become a major problem in the U.S. (Sound Vision, 2003). In the U.S., seven in 10 women reported having had sex before age 14, and six in 10 of those who had sex before age 15 reported having had sex involuntarily. Nationally, one-quarter of 15-year-old females and less than 30% of 15-year-old males have had sex, compared with 66% of 18-year-old females, and 68% of 18-year-old males who have had sexual intercourse.

In addition, nearly one million young women under age 20 become pregnant each year, meaning that nearly 2800 teens get pregnant each day (Sound Vision, 2003). Teen childbearing costs U.S. taxpayers nearly $7 billion annually for social services and lost tax revenues. Currently, in the U.S., one in four sexually active teens become infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital warts and HIV, every year.

As far as teenage violence is concerned, the number of teens who are victims of or participants in violence, murder and crime has drastically increased over the past several years (Sound Vision, 2003). In 1998, young black males were most vulnerable to violent crime. One in 12 persons who were victims of violence, murder and crime were between the ages of 12 and 15, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. In addition, teenagers were more likely to become victims of violent crime than older people. In 1998, nearly one-third of all victims of violent crime were ages 12 to 19 and almost half of all victims of violence were under age 25 (Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice).

Studies show that homicide is the second leading cause of death for persons 15 to 24 years of age and is the leading cause of death for African-American and Hispanic youths in this group In 1996 alone, 6,548 young people were victims of homicide. Every day in the U.S., 15% of students carry a gun to school, according to a 1993 survey of sixth through twelfth graders (Dew, 1995).

Homicides committed by 15- through 19-year-olds using firearms increased 61% between 1979 and 1989, the American Psychological Association Commission on Violence and Youth reported. According to FBI reports, juvenile firearm-murders rose 79% in the past decade.

In the past 30 years, violence in America has become a national public health epidemic. Acts of homicide, rape, robbery, and assault have reached critical levels, especially with teenagers. Changes in society, distressed families, inadequate schooling, and the easy availability of drugs have led to drastic increases in crime and violence. Americans do not feel safe because we are not safe.

The effects of fear and stress of life in society upon teenagers today is evident in the increase of violent outbreaks and psychiatric admissions among U.S. youth. In addition, a violent environment makes teenagers worldwide more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and take illegal substances.

Drug and alcohol abuse is a major concern for teens in the U.S. Studies show that more than half of teens aged 12-17 reported that drugs were easy to obtain in 1998 (Sound Vision, 2003). Approximately 13% of the population reporting that someone selling drugs had approached them in the past month.

Alcohol apparently is the drug of choice for many teens. More than 40% of teens admitted drinking when they are upset; 31% said they drink alone; 25% said they drink when they are bored; and 25% said they drink to "get high" (Sound Vision, 2003). On an annual basis, teenagers spend $5.5 billion on alcohol, considerably more than they spend on soft drinks, tea, milk, juice, coffee or books combined. Sixty percent of college women diagnosed with an STD reported being drunk at the time of infection (Advocacy Institute, 1992). Alcohol is a major concern for the U.S. As eight young people are killed in alcohol-related crashes every day. We are simply losing too many teens and wasting too many lives to allow this problem to continue.

The impacts of teenage drug abuse are great. Alcohol is implicated in more incidents of sexual violence, such as rape, than any single drug (The Alan Guttmacher Institute, 1996). Alcohol use -- by the victim, the perpetrator or both -- is implicated in 46 to 75% of date rapes of college students. Thirty-eight percent of incarcerated sex offenders were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime (23% under the influence of alcohol alone, 15% under alcohol and drugs) and 5% were under the influence of drugs alone.