The document discusses several problems facing youth today including depression, suicide, violence, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and abortion. It argues that youth groups in churches can help address these issues by providing mentorship, counseling, and teaching youth healthy ways to deal with problems and stressors. The youth pastor is presented as a supportive figure who can help students facing depression, bullying, substance abuse issues, and the emotional difficulties associated with abortion. Overall, the document advocates for youth groups as a place where teens can find guidance and solutions during challenging times.

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Chandler McCall
Senior Project Research Paper
AP Literature
November 18, 2011
Problems with Youth Today
Youth today are expected to do a multitude of things that past generations did not
have to deal with. Many of these problems are new to our generation or have been around
for many generations, they just have become worse in recent years. These problems can
include depression, suicide, violence, drug abuse, alcohol, teen pregnancy and abortion.
Most of these are serious problems that are plaguing our youth, but they may not have
anywhere to go for help. One place that will always be there to help in anyway possible is
a youth group at a local church. It is now the job of many people to be involved with the
youth of a church and be a mentor for teens to make it through the trying times of middle
and high school. These youth pastors are there to help students and if more teens asked
for help from these leaders, they might find answers that fix these problems or stop the
problem before it even happens.
One of the most common problems that teens will face is depression.
“Documented statistics and data available indicated 20 teens out of every 100 suffer from
depression before they reach the age of 18.” (All-on-Depression-Help) This is 20% of
teens that will face depression before they are an adult. The cause of this depression can
range from stress to abuse, whether from a family member or bullying at school. “Nearly
30 percent of teens suffering from depression cultivate substance abuse problems. This
could be accompanied by alcohol consumption, too.” (All-on-Depression-Help) This is a

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very disturbing fact. Because of people’s depression, they turn to substances that “help”
them relieve the pain when there is a much better solution, which will not cause them a
physical addiction that might ruin their lives. Not only do teens turn to these substances
but they turn to an even worst answer to their pain, suicide. “The third leading cause of
death among teens is suicide.” (National Institute of Health) This is a very sad thing
because this is the most permanent of the problems. While others can have life long
effects, this is devastating to everyone around. Youth groups are there to be a support
network of friends and adults. They give everyone a place to go and get help. Youth
pastors often are trained in counseling and can do the best job out of any counselor
because of the already have a personal relationship with the student. While in the youth
group, the students are taught that there are going to be hard times, but not to worry,
everything will be fine in the end. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
(Psalm 23:4 NASB)
Another problem teens have to deal with today is violence. “One in ten teens
arrested has been engaging in a violent activity that could have resulted in the serious
injury or the death of another person.” (Teen Help) This is extreme violence that is well
known, but is this extreme violence is not as common as bullying. “National estimates
indicate that 30 percent of youth in grade six through 10 are involved in bullying, either
as a target or as the bully. Some even experience both.” (Teen Help) A major part of
bullying that can be stopped is how people treat others. Youth pastors often teach that
students should be nice and accepting to everyone, no matter what. “Never pay back evil
for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.” (Romans 12:17 NSAB)

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It is never alright to treat anyone in a way that they may deserve. Even the golden rule of
treat others as you want to be treated can lead to anger with someone else. With this
being taught, violence in all forms with teens would drastically be reduced because the
idea of retaliation would not be in students minds.
As mentioned earlier, drinking and substance abuse is a side effect of depression.
Not all students’ abuse drugs and alcohol because of depression, but it is a serious
problem in schools. “Although drinking by persons under the age of 21 is illegal, people
aged 12 to 20 years drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States.” (Center for
Disease Control and Prevention) This is one in ten drinks consumed is by someone
underage, which is a very high statistic and is not good. Drinking from the age of 12 to 20
can effect the development of a persons health and can cause a dependency on alcohol.
“More than 90% of this alcohol is consumed in the form of binge drinks. On average,
underage drinkers consume more drinks per drinking occasion than adult drinkers.”
(Center for Disease Control and Prevention) Teenagers do not understand the effects of
alcohol on their system and do not limit their consumption. They also do not understand
the effects alcohol has on their decision making. “In 2008, there were approximately
190,000 emergency rooms visits by persons under age 21 for injuries and other
conditions linked to alcohol.” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) Not only do
teens get injured while they are inebriated, but they are over confident in their ability to
do things such as drive while under the influence. “In 2007, about 28% of teenagers
killed in motor vehicle crashes were drinking either before or while they were driving.”
(Naik) Youth groups do not approve of under age drinking. Even once you are 21; it is
not widely accepted to drink without control. “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is

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dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18 NSAB) Also the use of illegal
drugs is not accepted at all. “In 2010, 21.4 percent of high school seniors used marijuana
in the past 30 days, while 19.2 percent smoked cigarettes.” (National Institutes of Health)
Youth pastors teach that you should keep your body clean of foul substances and any
illegal drug would fall under this category. Marijuana is also dangerous because it is a
gateway drug. Unlike the addiction you get from cigarettes, which is from the nicotine,
marijuana gives you the need for a high, which can be achieved by many different drugs
which is very dangerous to your health This is why it is called a gateway drug.
One problem that has been around for a while, but seems it has become worse in
resent years, is teen pregnancy. “Every year around 750,000 teenagers will get pregnant.”
(Pregnant Teen Help) This is a large amount of teens that suddenly are faced with a
situation that is very stressful and usually unexpected. “More than 2/3 of all teenagers
who have a baby will not graduate from high school, hence the correlation with teenage
pregnancy and education.” (Pregnant Teen Help) Youth pastors teach abstinence to their
students and this is a good message, as it is the only way that is 100% effective in
preventing pregnancy. When teens are put in the situation where they are expecting and
do not want to have the child, they turn to abortion. “More than half of abortions are
obtained by women under 25 years of age. In fact, 35 percent of pregnant teenagers have
an abortion, according to the National Abortion Federation.” (Welton) While this is a
legal option in the U.S., it is recommended as an absolute last option. Too many people
view this as more than just a last option, they see it as a quick solution to an immediate
problem. “The Guttmacher Institute reports that in 2006, there were 200,420 abortions
among teenagers, and the majority of these teenagers are ages 15 to 19 years.” (Welton)

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This is a staggering number and all were for teens in high school or the first year of
college. What is not taken into consideration for this procedure is the mental effects that
can come after the procedure. “Abortion can be an elective or sometimes a medically
necessary procedure. Society often underestimates the emotional problems that plague
the would-be mothers and families following an abortion…” (McElfresh) There are many
mental problems that can be traced back to this procedure that effect not only the woman,
but everyone in the family that is involved. “Most couples experience feelings of loss
after an abortion even if the pregnancy was not suspected or planned, says Leifer. Grief
over the loss may last longer than you expect. The thoughts of what might have been
sometimes plague both partners. Guilt can also accompany the grief process.”
(McElfresh) This guilt can lead to depression which goes back to earlier where youth
groups can come in. Some feel that abortion is murder, which goes against the Ten
Commandments, “You shall not murder.” (Exodus 20:14) Whether it truly is or is not
murder is up to debate, but many girls feeling guilt from this can find peace in a youth
group by understanding everyone is forgiven of their past, no matter what they have
done. “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”
(Romans 15:7 NSAB) While abortion is an option, still the best way to prevent
pregnancy in the first place is abstinence, which is taught in almost every youth group. If
it is not, then it needs to be, because whether you agree with abortion or not, it prevents
many other problems can arise other than pregnancy.
There are many trials and tribulations that teens must face in modern society. No
matter how advanced technology gets, or how great life may be, there will be the same
problems dragging teens down and causing them to stumble. This will never go away

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unless there is action taken. We need to start teaching our youth how to deal with these
problems in the correct way and one of the best places to go to learn these things is a
youth group in a local church. It does not matter so much what kind of church it is, just as
long as you are being taught ways to handle day to day life in a way that may eliminate
these problems that ruin people’s lives.

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Works Cited
All-on-Depression-Help. “Teenage Depression Statistics.” all-on-depression-help.com.
N.p., 2009. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.all-on-depression-
help.com/‌teenage-depression-statistics.html>.
The Bible. 1960. 1995 ed. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002. Print. NASB
Thinline Bible. New American Standard Bible.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “Alcohol and Public Health.” Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., 20 July 2010. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://
www.cdc.gov/‌alcohol/‌fact-sheets/‌underage-drinking.htm>.
McElfresh, Annie. “EMOTIONAL SIDE EFFECTS OF ABORTION.” Editorial.
LiveStrong.com. N.p., 28 Mar. 2011. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.livestrong.com/‌article/‌110738-emotional-side-effects-abortion/>.
Naik, Abhijit. “Teen Drinking and Driving Facts - Teenage Drunk Driving Statistics.”
Buzzle.com. N.p., 22 Sept. 2011. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.buzzle.com/‌articles/‌teen-drinking-and-driving-facts-teenage-drunk-
driving-statistics.html>.
National Institute of Health. “Suicide in the U.S.: Statistics and Prevention.” National
Institute of Mental Health. N.p., 27 Sept. 2010. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.nimh.nih.gov/‌health/‌publications/‌suicide-in-the-us-statistics-and-
prevention/‌index.shtml#prevent>.

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National Institutes of Health. “NIDA InfoFacts: High School and Youth Trends.”
National Institute of Drug Abuse. N.p., Aug. 2010. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.drugabuse.gov/‌Infofacts/‌HSYouthtrends.html>.
Pregnant Teen Help. “Teen Pregnancy Statistics.” Pregnant Teen Help. N.p., 23 Nov.
2010. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.pregnantteenhelp.org/‌statistics/‌teen-
pregnancy-statistics/>.
Teen Help. “Teen Violence Statistics.” TeenHelp.com. N.p., 2011. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.teenhelp.com/‌teen-violence/‌teen-violence-statistics.html>.
Welton, Rose. “TEEN ABORTION FACTS.” Editorial. LiveStrong.com. N.p., 26 Apr.
2011. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.livestrong.com/‌article/‌88415-teen-
abortion/>.