Troubling Issues Facing Teenagers Today
Every generation faces tougher pressures, situations, and issues than the one before. Troubling issues facing teenagers open the opportunity for them venture down the wrong path. Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, violence, or theft, teens are faced with risky situations that can influence their direction in life and push them into life-threatening situations.
1. Drugs on School Property
Picture this: Bryan wanted to get home fast and catch his favorite TV program, so he cut across the school’s football field to save time. He saw older students sixty yards ahead and hoped they wouldn’t notice him. He was out of luck. Before he could escape, the older students surrounded him. As one student held Bryan’s arms, another one showed him a bag of suspicious pills, telling Bryan he should try one.
This situation is happening to many high school students. An alarming 22.1% of high school students have reported being offered, sold, or given an illegal drug on school property.
In addition to teens being offered illegal and dangerous substances, many are trying them. A reported 59% of youth aged 12 & older have admitted to trying some type of addictive substance, and 17.8% of high school students admitted to taking prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription.
Drug accessibility extends beyond the school yard, though. Family members are the most common source of addictive substances. About 46% of children under 18 live with a risky substance abuser.
If teens are exposed to drugs at either school or home, they are at a significantly greater risk of becoming a substance abuser.
2. Fighting in Schools
Imagine this: Greg finished a gym-class game of dodgeball. As he made his way to the locker room a teammate, Alan, approached him. Alan was livid because Greg accidently hit him in the head with a ball during dodgeball. Greg tried to apologize, but Alan wasn’t interested. He grabbed Greg’s shirt and pushed him against a locker. With his arm pressed against Greg’s throat, Alan pulled a knife from his pocket and waved it in Greg’s face.
Greg is part of the 7% of high school students that are threatened or injured with a weapon at school every year. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that 17.9% of young people admitted to carrying a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club on one or more days in the previous 30 days.
Many issues facing teenagers involve some kind of violent habits, with or without a weapon. A reported 21% of high school students said they have been in a physical fight or altercation on school grounds in the last 12 months. This violent behavior is growing. Since 2006, 26% of all national arrests for disorderly conduct were juveniles.
Unfortunately, children experience violence in school as well as in their own homes and neighborhoods. In 2008, 60% of children in the United States were exposed to violence, crime, or abuse in their homes and communities. Approximately 46% of children were assaulted at least once in the past year and 10% were injured from an assault.
3. Teens and Grand Theft Auto
Here’s another hypothetical. Scott and his friend were out for a drive on a Friday night. Scott’s friend had been drinking and got a wild idea. He turned down a side road and arrived at the local plastics factory. Scott’s friend said he knew that employees habitually leave their cars unlocked. He wanted to hotwire one and go for a joyride. Scott was hesitant but went along with his friend. As they started the car, employees came outside. Scott’s friend hit the gas and one worker realizes his car is leaving. The worker gave chase, but it was too late. Scott and his friend had stolen the car.
Car theft by teens is becoming a mounting problem in the United States as 23% of all motor vehicle thefts are committed by juveniles. That rate almost doubles in Wisconsin as juveniles committed 42% of all motor vehicle thefts.
4. Drinking and Driving
The CDC found that 31% of high school students admitted to riding with a driver that had been drinking alcohol, and 10% of teens drove themselves after consuming alcohol.
What Can You Do About Issues Facing Teenagers?
Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, violence, or theft, teens are confronted with risky and potentially life threatening situations. The stories above are hypothetical, but the numbers are real. Rawhide offers outpatient counseling in the Appleton, Green Bay, and Milwaukee area. Rawhide outpatient counselors hold Masters or Doctorate degrees and offer services to male and female clients of all ages. Don’t be afraid or wait too long to seek professional help.
Originally published at www.rawhide.org
