What is the number one problem facing teenagers?

The number one problem facing teenagers would have to be teen pregnancy and the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases.  It is a sad, but true realization to say that this generation is experiencing things a lot younger than they really should.    

It is said that 52% of high school teenagers are already sexually active. More than half of all twelfth grade students reported being sexually active compared to 20% of ninth grade students.  Although teen pregnancy rates have declined over the years, they are now climbing their way back up the percentage chart.  According to, “Teen Pregnancy Statistics,” 820,000 teenagers in the United States become pregnant each year, meaning 34% of teenagers become pregnant by the age of twenty.  40% of teenagers who reported having sex at the age of thirteen and fourteen say that it was unwanted. Not only this, but 80% of teenage pregnancies are unintentional. 

North Carolina is not only among the fifteen worst states for teen pregnancy, but also for STD’s, AIDS, and HIV.  It is estimated that in 2011, 8,300 people ranging from the age of thirteen to twenty-four in forty of the fifty states report to have an HIV infection.  Every day, 1,000 children are infected with HIV.   Many children who have AIDS or HIV do not receive treatment, in fact, it’s only 23%.  One in five people living with HIV are unaware of their infection and over one million people in the U.S. suffer from this disease.  Many cases of HIV not only occur in the US, but sadly, occur in third world countries, which lack many of the resources and medicines to treat the symptoms of this incurable disease.  Comparing heterosexual relationships to homosexual relationships (MSM), the percentage varies immensely with homosexuals rating a lot more.  In fact, the comparison was 27% to 61%. 

A possible solution to such distressing and ingenuous statistics would be to require all public schools to offer a sex education class.  With this class, it would inform teenagers the dangers of premarital sex and sexually transmitted diseases.  Even though sex education is covered in parts of health classes, it is only taught for a week maximum.  Also, 16% of high school students reported never being taught about AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.  With this solution, it would offer the chance for high school students to learn more, which could possibly help lead to less teen pregnancies and HIV rates. 

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1956645,00.html

http://www.teenhelp.com/teen-pregnancy/teen-pregnancy-statistics.html

http://www.unicefusa.org/work/hivaids/?gclid=CNiw98CJlLYCFQYFnQodInEA1w

http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/statistics/