Sec. 3: Challenges of Adolescence Chapter 6 Sec. 3: Challenges of Adolescence

Teenage sexual behavior Sexual experimentation different in every culture 60’s and 70’s evolvement of the birth control pill (sexual revolution) 29% unmarried females between 15 and 19 sexually active in 1970 1995: increased by 50%

Cont. 1970: 22 births/ 1000 unmarried teenage females 1996: climbed to 43 CDC: Center for Disease Control: abstinence

Influences Family income level Parents martial status Religious participation Friends are sexually active betters changes you will too

Consequences of early sexual activity 1/3 sexually active women use birth control Lower birth rate Less likely to finish high school Lower earnings Babies have learning disabilities Children have greater risk of being teenage parents themselves

Cont. Exposes teenagers to STD’s (syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydeous, and AIDS 50% of new HIV cases are younger than 25 4 million teenagers contract STD’s each year

Teenage Drug Use Drug: substance that changes mood and behavior Many forms such as: alcohol, medicines, cigarettes, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin Greeks smoked opium 3,000 years ago Aztecs: used hallucinogens Cocaine was is soft drinks and cough medicine in 1900’s

Blood Alcohol Content

Warning Signs Signs at School sudden drop in grades truancy Signs in the Home loss of interest in family activities disrespect for family rules withdrawal from responsibilities verbally or physically abusive sudden increase or decrease in appetite disappearance of valuable items or money not coming home on time not telling you where they are going constant excuses for behavior spending a lot of time in their rooms lies about activities finding the following: cigarette rolling papers, pipes, roach clips, small glass vials, plastic baggies, remnants of drugs (seeds, etc.) Signs at School sudden drop in grades truancy loss of interest in learning sleeping in class poor work performance not doing homework defiant of authority poor attitude towards sports or other extracurricular activities reduced memory and attention span not informing you of teacher meetings, open houses, etc.