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Crime
According to a 1999 study by the
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP),
youths made up 54% of all arson arrests, 42% of all vandalism
arrests, and 35% of all motor vehicle theft arrests. 2
Evidently, youth crime is widespread problem and must be
addressed on all levels.
Drug
Abuse Whether it be to escape the pressures of life,
curiosity, or peer pressure, the temptation to do drugs is
strong among teens. Worse still, drugs are readily available to
them, with the end result being addiction. The best way to
prevent a teen from turning to drugs is to educate them as well
as provide them with alternative means of having fun and coping
with their problems.
Alcohol
Abuse Despite the drinking age of 21, it is estimated that
over three million teenagers abuse alcohol. Sadly, the impaired
judgment brought on by drinking alcohol can have devastating
effects, as seen by the multitude of tragic deaths in drunk
driving accidents. Alcohol can ruin lives forever it is
important to seek help for yourself or a loved one who abuses
alcohol.
Gangs
Unfortunately, the attractions of gang life for teens are many
prestige, the chance to make money through drug trafficking, a
sense of belonging, or protection.1
These youth
gang members are sixty times more likely to be killed than
people in the general population.1
Gang membership is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at
all costs.
Anger Management
Many teens are unaware of how to manage their anger, and as a
result they can be a danger to themselves and others.
Additionally, anger management problems can lead to other
detrimental behaviors such as criminal activity or drug abuse.
It is important to address this issue through learning anger
management skills or attending anger management counseling.
Self-Esteem
The turbulent teenage years are fraught with difficulties, and
having a low self-esteem only compounds these issues. Low
self-esteem can be linked to many other teen problems, such as
anorexia, bulimia, suicide, and depression. Addressing
self-esteem issues early on is an important preventative measure
for at-risk teenagers. |
