Safety & Welfare Issues

Around 13,000 adolescent deaths occur each year from combined causes. (Shute, 02/09)

Sixty-percent of teens admit to multi-tasking while driving. (Haupt, 5-19-08)

There were 13,411 golf-cart injuries in 2006 that required emergency room treatment, including concussions, fractures and hemorrhages. The highest injury rates were among 10-19-year-olds. Many of these likely occurred while performing careless stunts in golf carts, something popularized by the 'Jack-Ass' movies.

At least 82 youths have died from playing 'the choking game' in recent years. (Honolulu Star Bulletin, 2-17-08) As many as 20% of teens and sometimes preteens play the game. Actual statistics are probably much higher, as many such deaths are ruled suicides. The game is played either alone or with friends, and involves intentional asphyxiation using hands or objects to get a euphoric high from the lack of-and then sudden rush- of blood to the brain.

6,000 teens drop out of school every day. Some states use systems that allow them to report better graduation rates than is actually the case. New Mexico, for instance, claims 85%. True numbers are more around 54%. The United States is the only industrialized country where children are less likely to earn high-school diplomas than their parents. (USA Today, 11-3-08)

The National Runaway Hotline for teens fields well over 100,000 calls each year, about 15,000 of which are teens trying to escape abusive situations in the home. (Irvine, 4-8-08)

David Finkelhor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center, reports that numerous ongoing studies show that social networking among teens doesn't increase or create risk for sexual victimization. A study released in March 2009 by the center found no evidence whatsoever that online predators were stalking or abducting victims based on information posted on social networking sites. (Jayson, 4-2-09) This "online predator" problem that parents always hear about is nothing more than a media-created myth.

Self-discipline is twice as important as intelligence in predicting academic success. (Duckowrth & Seligman, 2005)

A study of more than 37,000 teens found that connection with adults is the best defense against the different pitfalls that ensnare them. (Resnick, Harris & Blum, 1993)

- Safety & Welfare Issues -

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Teens face a variety of unique safety issues all their own. The transition to adulthood can be a rough one, riddled with traps at every turn. During childhood, parents only had to worry about their children doing dangerous things on accident. As teens, it's not uncommon for them to seek out stupid, reckless or dangerous behavior on their own or at the bequest of their peers. This section explores issues related to safety and welfare, everything from eating disorders and driving risks to the reckless things teens do to each other.