Abortion is a morality issue that has been debated over and over in most schools, forums, shows and most any place that you can imagine. According to CDC in the year 2003, there is a total of: 848,163 legal induced abortions during 2003 as reported by 49 different areas; the abortion ratio (the number of abortions per 1,000 live births) was 241; the abortion rate was 16 per 1,000 women aged 15- 44 years. From all reported abortions, there were 15 women who died due to complications from known legal induced abortion while there was one death complications from known illegal abortion

Today there are In the U.S, the policy for teenagers who wants to have an abortion varies depending on the state. Here is the abstract of a paper written by Carol Sanger from Columbia Law school regarding the country’s policy in the topic abortion.

“Thirty-four US states currently require pregnant minors either to notify their parents or get their consent before having a legal abortion. The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of theses statutes provided that minors are also given an alternative mechanism for abortion approval that does not involve parents. The mechanism used is the ‘judicial bypass hearing’ at which minors persuade judges that they are mature and informed enough to make the abortion decision themselves. While most minors receive judicial approval, the hearings intrude into the most personal aspects of a young woman’s life. The hearings, while formally civil in nature, can be punitive in tone. Parental involvement statutes are often couched in the language of family communications and protecting minors. They are politically popular because they offer politicians the chance to be pro-life, pro-choice, and pro-family all at once. This paper argues that parental involvement statutes are less concerned with developing nuanced policies to improve the quality of teenage health or decision making than with securing a set of political goals aimed at making abortion harder to get, restoring parental authority, and punishing girls for having sex.

That kind of policy may be humane but still debatable especially for those the conservatives and religious. On the other hand, there are women especially those who were victims of physical violation may have a different view on this. But the real issue is whether teens will be given the chance to get away from the fruits of an irresponsible act. Views may differ but the fact won’t change with or without sex education in school. As parents, there are no sure ways to help avoid teen pregnancy especially with how volatile teens are becoming, but abortion may be prevented if parents make it known to their children that they are there to support them at all times.

“Following a decline of more than 28 percent, the suicide rate for 10- to-24-year-olds increased by 8 percent, the largest single-year rise in 15 years, according to a report just released in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).”

– ScienceDaily (Sep. 8, 2007)

The reported increase began in the middle of 2003 and 2004. Specialists are not sure if this is a short-term occurrence or the beginning of the age where teens can no longer succumb to the distress caused by their own personal issues or their own environment.

According to CDC, particular age ranges and gender had a dramatic annual increase. These are the age group and gender of the highest teen suicide rate:

– For 10- to-14-year-old females, the rate increased from 0.54 per 100,000 in 2003 to 0.95 per 100,000 in 2004

– For 15-to-19 year-old females the rate increased from 2.66 to 3.52 per 100,000

– For 15-to-19 year-old males, the rate increased from 11.61 to 12.65 per 100,000

CDC can not really determine the reason for this sudden increase they were able to acquire a record of the method they used though:

1990- boys and girls commonly used firearms

2004- 71.4% of 10-14 year-old girls who committed suicide used hanging or suffocation. During the period of 2003-2004, there was 119% increase in 10-14 year old girls who hang/suffocated themselves. Boys’ most common method is still firearms.

CDC now aims to gather more information on suicide occurrences (failed/successful) and place them in a centralized system to be able to determine the underlying cause of these attempts. Through this system they wish to be able to succeed in finding ways in helping to prevent teens in committing suicide.

To be labeled as a geek in this day and age can be a difficult thing. Geeks choose to isolate themselves from the world. They choose to hide from the public eye where they won’t be judged. Where they can be themselves. This often leads to depression and loss of confidence.

Today’s society may have forgotten the significance of having people around you. People who could be there when you’re down. People who could pick you off the ground and get you back on the right track. Bullied geeks don’t have that.

Everyone should think about what struggling geeks have to go through in today’s society. Teens suffer ridicule, peer pressure and the like. It’s important to have someone guide you through this rough phase. If not, a person is susceptible to make wrong decisions which in turn could prove fatal.

Take the school shootings for example. The suspects turned out to be students who had been pushed around one time too many. That horrific incident should never had happened should these kids had proper guidance and counseling – not by school personnel but by friends. Friends who could understand what these kids are going through.

It doesn’t matter if you’re popular or not – every one of us needs someone to confide in. And I think it’s about time that we stopped pushing the geeks away.

In the monolithic division in your high school that separates the populars from the losers, where do you stand? Some who belongs in the latter category may not admit that they are part of that crowd, some would probably be glad that they fall in that category while the others are simply “dying” to get out of it. No matter how you look at your spot in the scholastic social system a couple of things are sure: People from the other group are not necessarily better than you are. That you may be so much more than they are in many other things; that they are not necessarily happier than you are; that being lucky does not make you a better person and; that you are the own master of your destiny.

Sadly, not a lot of teens look at their situation this way. The monolithic division that I was talking about earlier becomes a big deal for a lot of them. This division is suddenly dictating to them what they are and what they are bound to be. It’s fortunate that there are many instances that it reaches a certain boundary where the teen can no longer manage it. Their self-esteem together with their pride is crashed to pieces thus, affecting their psychiatric state. This is when things become sensitive. Theres no saying as to how far a person’s imagination can go and, theres no saying as to how far they can believe that it is just imagination. Drugs, alcohol, school shootings, you name it they all happened and much that I don’t want to admit… they will continue happening if the general perception of diversity will not change.

A week ago I was able to grab a copy of Jody Picoult’s latest book “Nineteen Minutes.” Being a person who believes in the simple rule of “an eye for an eye,” I was quite astound to discover myself sympathizing with a teenager who killed 9 of his schoolmates and his Math teacher in his school in a small town in New Hampshire.

If you watch the video, you would know the entire plot and the conflict of the story. But what bothered me most is the lengths that a person can go through once he has had “enough.”

The most disturbing thing about it is that school shootings do happen in real life –several times for the past years and blood-curdling as it may seem, I won’t be surprised if another incident of shooting gets reported soon. Just like Peter from the story, most of these real life incidents were triggered by a constant bullying and discrimination coming from other students– something that most school administrations and parents never really take too seriously. People are very busy dissing and hating the shooter, they never realize that this kind of tragedy will never stop unless people will start paying attention and start becoming more humane to every person around them. So before picking on someone, be sure that that person doesn’t know anything about explosives or guns, you wouldn’t know what he can do if things get really really bad for him.

School shootings are starting to seem like a bi-annual festival celebrated in different parts of the US. In the past 10 years more than 40 school shootings have already occurred all over the US probably around 90% involves a minor killing/wounding his fellow student or teacher. A lot of people have been wondering how a child or anyone for that matter could have the guts to do such a despicable act. Psychologists have their own theories, one of them involving a capsule not any bigger than a bullet.

Teens tend to get bored easily. If they are mixed with a bad crowd, drugs may be their only solution to boredom. However, there are lots of activities that a teen can engage to so that they can avoid drugs.

Sports activities are good solutions to avoid drugs. Engaging in sports sharpens their physical and intellectual wits. They would think that drugs will just slow them down and distract their winning ways. With this thought at the back of their heads, prohibited drugs will never be a problem.

Having a fruitful activity that requires attention and time will definitely keep the teens away from drugs. Being dedicated in something worthwhile brings out the willingness to repel vices and other bad habits.

If in case the teen is already hooked on drugs, there are numerous rehabilitation centers and boot camps situated in different parts of the country. Just make sure that the appropriate center is chosen.

Most of troubled teens are victims of their own environment. Environment plays a major role in a child’s personality. Growing up in an environment filled with violence will automatically trigger a child’s instinct for cruelty. The kid will most likely imitate what the environment is displaying.

Being abused is the general problem of these teens. As a victim of violence, they tend to detach themselves from society and live a life that they will soon regret. If this happens, it may result to bigger problems such as suicide.

Keeping them away from this kind of environment is essential in their growth as a person. If it is not possible to move them out to a different place then at least they should be trained in avoiding circumstances that would lead them into trouble. One way to do this is to have an adult set a good example to a child so that even if they are staying in a hostile environment, the child knows how to shun circumstances that may harm them in the end.

A home houses a family. This is a very unique explanation of what a home is. A clear-cut picture of a home depicts a happy family free from worries. Having a good home brings out the best in every member of the family.

Home improvement involves good conversation during times when the family is gathered in any activity. An example of an activity that involves all family members is eating dinner together or watching a late night movie. This is a perfect opportunity to enjoy a jolly discussion with all the members. This strengthens the connection of each member of the family. A good conversation often releases tension all at once.

Another home improvement strategy is for parents to gain the trust of their children. They must be there whenever their child encounters a problem. The child must be willing to unfold everything to their parents. This means that they should not sugar-coat any problems.

There are many factors to improve a home and this is just a few. What is important is that a good home fabricates positive results.

Drug abuse has been a constant problem in most countries. Urban districts showcase a variety of drugs available even to minors. This is a very alarming fact that needs to be addressed to immediately. Most teens think that engaging in drugs is the “in” thing nowadays. What they don’t realize is the fact that they are wasting hard earned money and they are harming their personality as well.

Teens turn to drugs because of numerous reasons. One particular reason is peer pressure. Being with a circle of friends who use drugs will most likely influence a teen to use prohibited drugs as well. Another reason is rebellion. They tend to use drugs to irritate their parents more or to get their attention.

If a kid is engaged in drug activities, it has to be prevented as soon as possible. One way to stop this is by enrolling the child in boot camps, brat camps or other educational programs that will help them recover.

The youth serve as the future of the nation and they must be preserved and kept away from drugs as much as possible. Without the youth, a nation’s dream of success will never become a reality.