Teenage Issues in America While Many Parents Term Paper

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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).

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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.....

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