According to a new government report, the number of teens giving birth has risen for the first time in 15 years. For every one thousand young women, between the ages of 15 and 17, twenty-two will give birth. This may contribute to another unhealthy trend. The number of low birth weight newborns continues to increase. We know from statistics that youth in foster care are more likely to engage in risky behaviors than other teens are. Therefore, when you see an increase in the general population of teens, you can be sure the increase among foster youth is much higher. In fact, most children who were traumatized by early abuse, neglect, or drugs tend to engage in more risky behaviors. If you have adopted one of these children then you already know that, especially if your child has reached the teenage years. Children who were sexually abused may have a very difficult time adjusting through puberty, teen years, and young adult life. Do you know where your older adopted child is right now?

If this makes you feel any better, the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, has reported that fewer eighth graders are smoking. What happened to the law of not selling cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18? The number of teenage smokers has remained constant among 10th through 12th graders, as has the number of adolescence using drugs and alcohol. The number of children in our country has increased, but their percentage of the population has decreased. That must mean that we Americans are living longer so we outnumber the children. Hispanic and Asian children in our country have increased. It might be interesting to know how much of the increase is due to international adoption.

For the first time in 12 years, homicides and other violent crimes have also increased among teens. Nearly 20 adolescents out of every 1000, between the ages of 12 and 17 have committed violent crimes. Deaths from injuries among children continue to decrease. Perhaps this can be attributed to increased enforcement of seatbelt and infant restraint laws, although it doesn’t say.


STD information and referrals to STD Clinics
CDC-INFO
1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
TTY: 1-888-232-6348

CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN)
P.O. Box 6003
Rockville, MD 20849-6003
1-800-458-5231
1-888-282-7681 Fax
1-800-243-7012 TTY
E-mail: info@cdcnpin.org

American Social Health Association (ASHA)
P. O. Box 13827
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3827
1-800-783-9877


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Genital HPV Infection - Common STDs Your Teenager Should Know About
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