Summing It Up
Summing It Up
What is it like growing up in the 21st century? Young people live in very different circumstances because of their families' social and economic status, their race, and their luck. Those who are fortunate enough to live in communities that give high priority to education can have wonderful experiences in school. Driscoll School in Brookline, Massachusetts, is an example of excellence in public schools, and there are many others all over the United States. This chapter summarizes the antecedents of adolescents' high-risk behaviors and then takes a look at the overlap, or co-occurrence, in these behaviors. Several antecedents appear to be the most frequently mentioned: early use of drugs or alcohol; alienation, especially out of the mainstream; high-risk friends; poverty; lack of support or lack of attachment to adults; low achievement; and learning disabilities. One could question whether the quality of life is really of a high standard for adolescents growing up today in the United States. As this book has addressed each issue (sex, drugs, violence, health, education), it is clear that the situation is complex.
Keywords: United States, adolescents, high-risk behaviors, drugs, alcohol, learning disabilities, quality of life, education, violence, sex
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