Answers For Parents

Current Statistics on Teenagers

Answers For Parents strives to be the leading authority on troubled teens and the resources available to Parents for helping their troubled teens.

In recent years, believe it or not, there has actually been an improvement in the number of "troubled teens" that have committed violent crimes; but statistically the number of troubled teens committing violent crimes compared to every other age group is still the highest.

The following information is from the Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) and was released in 2004:

• Approximately one in five troubled teens (18 percent), or 4.3 million troubled teens nationally, report abusing Vicodin®; one in 10 teenagers (10 percent), or 2.3 million teenagers nationally, report abusing OxyContin®. (Both are prescription painkillers.)
• One in 10 troubled teens (10 percent), or 2.3 million young people, has tried prescription stimulants Ritalin® and/or Adderall® without a doctor’s order.
• One in 11 troubled teens (9 percent), or 2.2 million young people, has abused OTC cough medications intentionally to get high. Such products contain the active ingredient dextromethorphan.
• Troubled teens abuse of prescription and OTC medications is higher or on par with troubled teens abuse of a variety of illicit drugs – i.e., cocaine / crack (9 percent), Ecstasy (9 percent), methamphetamine (8 percent), LSD (6 percent), ketamine (5 percent), heroin (4 percent) and GHB (4 percent).
• Abuse of medications has penetrated troubled teens culture: 37 percent of troubled teens say they have close friends who have abused prescription painkillers like Vicodin®, OxyContin® and Tylox®. Some 29 percent say the same about prescription stimulants Ritalin® and Adderall®. Troubled teens often overstate friends’ use; however, this measure underscores awareness and normalization of this type of substance abuse among teenagers.
• Troubled teens who abuse or have abused an Rx or OTC medication are, more often than not, likely to report having abused drugs such asEcstasy and marijuana

The number of sexual relationships outside of marriage has risen and continues to plague troubled teens. Each year in the United States, 800,000 to 980,000 troubled teens become pregnant.

How does Answers For Parents help Parents of troubled Teens and Young Adults?

Answers For Parents is committed to helping troubled teens change their lives and once again become integral members of their families and communities. Although there is no greater resource than parents communicating and strengthening their troubled teens, sometimes intervention is required outside of the family unit and this is where Answers For Parents can help. Answers For Parents offers free expert treatment program Admissions Services for troubled teens and young adults. Please call us today for a free and confidential consultation at 877-242-6793. You can view our 24/7 Parent Help Line by clicking here.