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Treating people in abusive ways will not be accepted. This is the clear message of those who want to prevent teen dating violence (TDV), which is a serious problem in the United States, advises youth.gov, a website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
It is reported that nearly 1.5 million teens (1 in 3), admits being in unhealthy relationships. Girls 16-24 years old are three times as likely as any other demographic to be abused by a boyfriend or other intimate partner. Ten percent of both female and male teens reported physical dating violence in the past 12 months and 29 percent reported verbal or psychological abuse, also in the past year.
The National Conference of State Legislatures, in addressing the issue of TDV, quoted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "Teens who experience dating violence are more likely to exhibit antisocial behaviors, engage in unhealthy behaviors such as tobacco, drug and alcohol use, experience depression and anxiety, and consider suicide. These continue into adulthood."
Further, individuals who experience TDV in high school are more likely to be victimized again in college.
The conference supported Dating Matters, a CDC initiative to raise awareness of TDV and preventative strategies for individuals, peers, families, schools and neighborhoods. The report advises that about half of the states in the country have laws that allow, urge, require schoolboards to develop or include curriculums on TDV.
In Ohio, legislators enacted the Tina Croucher Act (2014) that "requires school districts to adopt a dating violence prevention policy and to include dating violence prevention education within the health education curriculum.
TDV "includes physical, psychological or sexual harassment, or stalking of any person ages 12 to 18 in the context of a past or present romantic or consensual relationship," explains teendvmonth.org. It can occur in person, on social media or telecommunication or electronically. It is violent and abusive, the site says.
Teens and preteens are not yet emotionally or mentally mature, are not yet ready to cope with the stresses of a romantic relationship. TDV occurs when:
• They can't communicate their feelings to their romantic partner.
• They don't know how to communicate effectively with their romantic partner.
• They become depressed or suffer anxiety or other emotional problems.
• They are pressured into behaving in ways they ordinarily wouldn't by their peers.
• Drugs or alcohol are introduced.
Youth are influenced by what they see and hear around them. (Violence is considered normal these days.) Violence at home confirms for them that this is "normal."
Consequences of TDV are depression, anxiety, aggression, alcoholism/drug abuse, anorexia/bulimia, thoughts of suicide, sexually transmitted diseases, serious criminal consequences.
Prevention is key, the sooner the better, because youth who are involved in TDV relationships often carry those things with them into future relationships through their lifetimes. (Think about situations you are aware of from your own youth.) Youth may be afraid to talk about what they are dealing with because of consequences arising with their parents and their peers. They need understanding, not punishment. They need someone they trust and admire who inspire trust, respect and honesty in relationships.
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Addiction has no address, but Family Recovery Center does. For more information about the education, prevention and treatment programs for substance abuse and related behavioral issues, contact the agency at 964 N. Market St., Lisbon; phone, 330-424-1468; or email, info@familyrecovery.org. Visit the website at familyrecovery.org. FRC is funded in part by Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board.