Problems teenagers face today
It is an old cliche now that the teenage years are the most trying ones forboth the teenager and the parents. The transition from childhood toadulthood is fraught with physical, emotional, mental and psychologicalchanges. Teenage problems are now compounded by the challenges facingsociety today. The life experiences encountered between the ages of 12 and20, burgeoning emotional and sexual feelings; physiological development ofsecondary sexual characteristics; entry into the order of society throughindividual and group affiliations, leave a lasting impression. Some of thedifficulties facing teenagers have to do with drugs, (its availability andeffects on development), threat and high incidence of HIV and AIDS,violence and gang-related violence and depression. These have deep effectson the physical, emotional and cognitive
Depression in teenagers should be properly addressed since theeffects can last long into adulthood and the risk of suicide increases. Not only does violence hinder the ability toconcentrate on learning, but also it may produce serious emotional distressto students and even result in post traumatic stress disorder. Adults are faced with an additional problem of curbing theavailability of these drugs that are now easily obtained even on theinternet. The influence of peers is very strong. Although statistics show that fewer teenagers are smoking marijuana andthat their attitudes and perceptions are more positive, the use of the drugecstasy and the "club drugs" associated with rave parties is still too highamongst teenagers. Some of the reasons forjoining a gang may include needing to belong, searching for recognition andpower, lack of self-worth and status, or a need for physical safety andprotection. There are both short- and long-term effects especially ofschool-related violence. Adepressed adolescent may be disruptive, show academic difficulties, havepoor concentration, show changes in sleep and eating patterns, haveproblems with peer relationships, be irritable, have stomach-aches andheadaches. Gangs appear to operate in all states and in both suburbia andinner cities. For a long time depression was thought to be an adult condition. The Kaiser Family Foundation states thatapproximately 25% of all people living with HIV became infected when theywere in their teens, and that the number of adolescents with AIDS in theUnited States has increased more than seven fold in the past decade. However, violence is a learned behavior, and is first learnedin the home.
Common topics in this essay:
AIDS United,
HIV AIDS,
,
Control Prevention,
Family Foundation,
physical emotional,
violence gang-related,
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