The Causes of Teen Pregnancy, Violence, and Drug Abuse Essay -- Exposi

The Causes of Teen Pregnancy, Violence, and medicine Abuse The headlines proclaimed the controversial news travel, poverty, and single-parents were NOT the irrevocable harbingers of do drugs abuse, teen pregnancy, and force out. Instead, researchers were claiming that behaviors that parents and teens could influence -- such as problems at school and the enumerate of time spent hanging out with friends and the type of friends they chose -- could predict trouble. just about cynics speculated that this was a right-wing conspiracy to justify abolishing federal programs for the despicable. Some assumed that the media, always keen for a dog bites man story, had oversimplified research results to work over a newsworthy sound bite. On the another(prenominal) hand, close to younker advocates welcomed the idea that impoverished minority youth with single parents didnt necessarily come three strikes against them. This study, The Effects of Race/Ethnicity, Income, and Famil y Structure on Adolescent fortune Behaviors, by Robert Blum, MD. has important implications for all parents and adults who work with youth. The study examines the extent to which race and ethnicity (white, black, or Hispanics), income (6 categories, ranging from $10,000 or less to $61,000 or more), and single-parent homes (i.e., family structure) predict several ad hoc problem behaviors among middle school students and among high school students- Smoking - intoxicant consumption - Suicidal thoughts or attempts - Weapon-related violence - Ever had informal communion (yes/no) These were measured as a continuous range of behaviors, except for sexual intercourse. The results show that race, income, and family structure each influence many of these problem behaviors. I... ... statistics, you testament realize that a white teen from a middle- sort out two-parent family is almost as likely to get into trouble (or stay out of trouble) as a Black or Hispanic teen from a poor sin gle-parent home. This report should encourage parents of disadvantaged minority students, and the teachers and other adults who work with them, because it indicates some important influences that can be modified to help these children. On the other hand, it provides a real wake-up call for white, suburban families who think their children are tolerant from serious problems. And, it helps explain why substance abuse and tragic violence can occur even in seemingly safe, middle class communities.Source CitedBlum, Robert, MD. The Effects of Race/Ethnicity, Income, and Family Structure on Adolescent gamble Behaviors American Journal of Public Health December 2000.