Preventing Teen Pregnancy
By , May 2007
Seventy-two percent of teens who experiment with drugs and alcohol are sexually active. Nearly one-quarter of those sexually active teens report having sex without a condom because they were under the influence of drug or alcohol and 43% of teens report they are concerned they might go further, sexually, than they had planned due to the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Now it’s your turn to be concerned. Nearly one-third of pregnant teens are 17 and younger. Among Hispanics, the fastest growing ethnic group in the nation, teen birth rates have declined more slowly than for other groups over the past decade and Hispanics now have the highest teen birth rate nationally. More than half (51%) of Latinos get pregnant by age 20.
Since the early 90’s teen pregnancy rates have continued to decline, but it is still a major concern. Why? The US still has the highest teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates in the entire industrialized world. Teen pregnancy is a complicated issue because it drastically affects countless areas of many people’s lives. It can lead to poverty, domestic abuse, health complications, and severely damaged relationships.
So what can we do about this problem? As mentioned above, teen pregnancy is closely linked to experimentation with drug and alcohol and other risky behaviors. As a parent, it is imperative that you understand that one mistake leads to another. Talk to your teen about the dangers of drug and alcohol experimentation. Be frank with them about your expectations of them and their sexual activity. If your teen has already started down this dangerous path of destruction, it’s time to get help.
At Parent Help, we can put an end to the destructive behaviors your teen is already engaging in. We have many different options for your teen including wilderness programs, residential treatment centers, military schools, and boot camps. Take back the control in your parent-child relationship, before your teen develops a parent-child relationship of their own.
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