Youth Risk

Since personal choice seems to be such a hot topic on the blogs, here is today’s topic for personal choices.

The Courier is reporting on the Youth Risk Behavior Study in conjunction with the Indiana Depart of Health and Governor Daniel’s Council for Physical Fitness and Sports. [Hoosier high schoolers battle weight problems]

It appears that we are making some progress in certain areas and less in others. I found it disturbing that the percentages are still as high is certain areas:
· 15 percent are overweight, an increase of 3.5 percentage points from 2003.
· Only about 60 percent reported getting adequate exercise.
But the comment from one of the students was “many students have no regular opportunity to work out. Sometimes I jog one or two laps around the neighborhood, or walk, but lots of times I just sit on the couch and watch TV.” So she chooses to watch TV but comments that there is no regular opportunity to work out. Is this rational thinking?
· Three of four students said they have tried alcohol and about four in 10 said they have been drinking within the past 30 days
· The survey found a slight decline in the use of several drugs, including marijuana, cocaine and math. But it did show slight increases in the number of youths who reported using inhalants and injecting illegal drugs.
· About 29 percent of students said they have been offered, sold or given illegal drugs on school property within the past year.
· The survey found a decrease in teens who smoke -- from 25.6 percent in 2003 to 21.9 percent in 2005
· About 18 percent of the current smokers who are younger than 18 said they were able to buy cigarettes at stores or gas stations
· About 44.5 percent of teens said they have had intercourse at least once, down more than 4 percentage points from 2003. There was a nearly identical reduction in the number of respondents who said they are currently sexually active.
· More than 25 percent said they felt hopeless or sad, and 18 percent said they have seriously considered attempting suicide. Just less than 15 percent of students said they have actually formed a suicide plan and nearly 10 percent said they have attempted suicide.
· More than 13 percent of the girls surveyed said they have been hit or hurt by a boyfriend, compared to about 9 percent in 2003.

So my question to all the bloggers;

What are the solutions to help combat these problems?

I believe that better education, getting back to traditional family values and encouraging Christian moral thinking is what has helped bring some of these numbers down. Studies show that we are getting further away from the 60’s and 70’s mentality of “free love”, the radical women’s lib movement, and doing things because it “feels good" and this has helped in multiple areas. Other studies have shown that the Abstinence programs remain the most successful in reducing the statistics related to sexual activity and diseases. If the media would not continue to place their anti-religious bias to these programs, we could make more enroads to the problem.

Using government to help regulate out of control abuses and legislate reasonable social programs that encourage traditional family environments will be the long term winner!!