Predators are always a concern. We worry about the “creeper” hanging around the neighborhood park and our kids being stalked over the Internet. Now there is an even more frightening predator stalking our children: the human trafficker.
Teens have always found inventive ways of concealing the use of alcohol, from drinking mouth wash to soaking gummy bears in vodka. But the newest trend might be the most dangerous.
For decades the leading cause of accidental death for teens has been motor vehicle crashes, with firearms being the second leading cause. In 2004, accidental poisoning deaths took the second spot and according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, accidental poisoning could soon be the leading cause.
In the classic Christmas movie, “A Christmas Story,” you probably remember when Schwartz “triple-dog” dared Flick to put his tongue on the frozen flag pole in front of the school. The result: Flick’s tongue becomes stuck to the flag pole and Flick has to keep his tongue wrapped in a bandage for the rest of the day.
Inhalant abuse, commonly called “huffing,” is the purposeful inhalation of chemical vapors to obtain a high. Inhalant abusers will often use household chemicals to obtain their high. The inhalant problem came to public attention in the 1950s when news media began reporting on young people sniffing model airplane glue to get a cheap high. Since then, young people have discovered most any household chemical — from nail polish remover to air fresheners — can give them the euphoric effect they are seeking.
The story of a 15-year-old old boy shot to death by police after he reportedly pointed a pellet gun at officers has been in the headlines ever since the tragic event occurred. Unfortunately, this is not the first time for such a story.
The latest survey released by the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future shows teen alcohol consumption is at the lowest level since the study began in 1975. The survey revealed the number of teens who drink alcohol has decreased about 25 percent over the past 20 years with about 54 percent reporting they drank in 1991 and about 40 percent reporting they drank in 2011. Researchers contribute the decrease to the attitude society has toward under-age drinking.
Teenage years are already difficult and teens are facing more pressures than they have in past years. Teens are being pressured by parents and society to act more like adults and make adult– like decisions. In today’s economy, some teens are being asked to be a surrogate parent to younger siblings while mom and dad take on extra work to make ends meet. Getting into college is more competitive and teens are feeling the pressures to make a decision about college at younger ages.