Our Teens are Trashed
A sad reality.... just some main points from an article I read and thought was important to share with anyone invoved in youth ministry...
How Can the Church Help Tackle Binge Drinking Among Youth?
Rev. Andrew J. Weaver, Ph.D.
"A new study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) finds 45 percent of teens report consumption of alcohol in the past month and 64 percent of the students who imbibed said they were binge drinking (defined as having five or more alcoholic drinks in a row)... The study also found that binge drinking is strongly associated with sexual activity, violence, and other high-risk behaviors.
When compared to nondrinkers, teen binge drinkers were:
*Four times more likely to be in a physical fight in the past year.
*Almost four times more likely to have ever been raped or subjected to dating violence in the past year.
*Four times more likely to have attempted suicide during the past 12 months.
*More than five times more likely to have been sexually active with one or more persons during the past three months.
*More likely to use marijuana, tobacco, cocaine, and/or inhalants.
*More likely to have a poorer academic performance."
*Four times more likely to be in a physical fight in the past year.
*Almost four times more likely to have ever been raped or subjected to dating violence in the past year.
*Four times more likely to have attempted suicide during the past 12 months.
*More than five times more likely to have been sexually active with one or more persons during the past three months.
*More likely to use marijuana, tobacco, cocaine, and/or inhalants.
*More likely to have a poorer academic performance."
"How the Church Can Help
Research has shown that stable families lower the risk of alcohol and drug abuse, so church programs that focus on strengthening the family can be a preventive strategy. A strong youth program that promotes good communication and social skills is valuable, as well.
Encouraging teens and their families to be active in the life of the community of faith is in itself an important preventive strategy when addressing substance abuse. Churches are a powerful preventive and healing resource for many teens and their families. Youth who practice their faith have more positive social values and caring behaviors and their families are more stable than those who do not practice their religion. Surveys have found that adolescent regular church attenders are half as likely to use alcohol as teens who do not attend church regularly."
posted by JennSarinana @ 4:52 PM
4 Comments:
this is a huge problem in the church and should be adressed. shoot, i would even say that it is a problem in our own community.
steve was on point this last weekend when he talked about how the church is the only real agent for change in their world. left to our own devices, we would likely be in a worst state of affairs than we are now. but god can bring change in the world, and the church is tasked to reach out with the message that sets people free from stuff like this.
jenn, you are already a part of the solution. keep pushing forward and reminding students that the life that jesus offers brings true joy, peace and fulfillment, not temporary happiness, a good time and a good story.
Thanks Pablo =o )
Good post. However, I would say that much of this stems to something that seems to be most of the "teenage problem"--fatherless homes.
Christians are now equal, if not more likely, to divorce. Christians "teen pregnancy" and un-wed children is also rising.
That is where we need to focus more attention as Christians. WE are not setting the example as Christians ourselves.
Soli Deo Gloria
I may not have been clear on my point after reading my comments. I'm trying to say that where we need to begin is in Strengthning the family. Then these issues will be less likely to occur.
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