While perusing the latest MSNBC.com Headline, I came a cross a rather upsetting article about teen suicide attempts. Being that I have a teenager, I must stay in the loop of understanding what makes them tick. Well needless to say, this article led me to some additional interesting Centers for Disease Control statistics that I need to share with my teen as well as my readers!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released their annual Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Report and the numbers are pretty scary. The ones that caught my attention the most were related to bullying, teen suicide, sex, alcohol, and drugs.
Check out the ones that caught my eye:
Nationwide, 70.8% of students had had at least one drink of alcohol on at least 1 day during their life (i.e., ever drank alcohol). The prevalence of having ever drunk alcohol was higher among black female (66.1%) than black male (60.9%) students.
Nationwide, 20.5% of students had drunk alcohol (other than a few sips) for the first time before age 13 years.
During the 30 days before the survey, 24.1% of students nationwide had ridden one or more times in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol.
During the 30 days before the survey, 8.2% of students nationwide had driven a car or other vehicle one or more times when they had been drinking alcohol.
Nationwide, 15.8% of students had seriously considered attempting suicide.
During the 12 months before the survey, 12.8% of students nationwide had made a plan about how they would attempt suicide.
Nationwide, 6.2% of students had had sexual intercourse for the first time before age 13 years.
Nationwide, 15.3% of students had had sexual intercourse with four or more persons during their life.
Nationwide, 16.6% of students had carried a weapon (e.g., a gun, knife, or club).
Nationwide, 20.1% of students had been bullied on school property.
Nationwide, 23.1% of students had used marijuana one or more times.
Nationwide, 11.4% of students had sniffed glue, breathed the contents of aerosol spray cans, or inhaled any paints or sprays to get high one or more times during their life (i.e., ever used inhalants).
The few statistics above are enough to make you want to home school your children. Well at least I know they do for me. However, we know that we can not shelter our children from this cruel world forever. We must continue to do our part as a responsible parent and constantly communicate with them and remain involved with who they are choosing as friends. I’ve seen some awful things come across my social networking wire these last few years and I pray daily that my child will not be one of the teens I see making bad decisions that will ruin his life forever.
My biggest advice as a parent to other parents, staying alert to your child’s daily activities will help your teen stay alive!
More DivaDee Teen News:
Teen Commits Suicide
State of Emergency
How To Parent A Teen