March 11, 2002

Adolescence is a period during which young people begin to establish an independent life course and to make decisions that can have lifelong consequences. Their search of self-identity includes a strong desire to experiment with new behaviours. In turn, this search involves decisions to take part in activities and adventures that can be risky or even dangerous: sex, drugs and alcohol, smoking and driving.

Sex? Yes, our children are having sex — not all of them, not all the time, but yes, sex. Adolescent bodies mature much faster than brains; this can put them into situations where they make poor decisions.

As an adolescent, imagine the hassle of chores, homework, a part-time job… try adding in being a 16 year-old mom or dad! Birth control methods are ubiquitous and should be available, but perhaps the simplest advice is to remember that no one ever got pregnant from saying “no”.

Sex can also be deadly. Despite medical advances — the STDs of our youth are largely under control — sex can kill. In 1996-97, 40% of young Canadians aged 15-19 reported inconsistent or non-use of condoms. Much as you may trust your present partner, having unprotected sex is about the same as having sex with all their previous or current partners. Do you trust them? Do you even know them?

Drugs and alcohol abuse are another danger. First, there is the simple issue of legality. Add in the risk of addiction and that these behaviours are just plain dangerous. These substances also complicate by making it difficult to say “no” in some circumstances, thus compounding the potential problems.

Still, perhaps a bit of “experimentation” is okay. Actually, it’s not. For example, some drugs can be addictive with only one use. And you only need one experiment with a dirty needle for HIV or Hep C. Besides, have you ever seen a truly “cool” drug addict?

Tobacco is another concern. Teenagers are the only age group in which smoking levels continue to increase, especially among young women 12-17 years. Ignoring how gross cigarettes make you smell, feel and look, what about the chemicals they introduce into the body? And cancer, emphysema… you get the point. A young person might think that they are only doing it to be accepted or for a bit of fun, but consider the many adults who are now trying to quit: did they simply wake up one day and decide to be addicted?

Driving. There is little as exciting and powerful as that first car. It’s the perfect toy! Sorry, it is not a toy. Every year 5000 Canadians are killed in these “toys,” a disproportionate number of them young people. Recent news stories from the Lower Mainland only bring this truth into better focus. Unintentional injuries, most often due to motor vehicle accidents, are the leading cause of death and disability among young people.

Making things worse is the deadly combination of drinking or substance abuse with driving. The advice is simple: don’t do it. And don’t let some moron talk you into getting into their car either, even if they insist on doing it themselves.

Young people who make a healthy transition into adolescence exhibit a number of common characteristics. They have positive and secure identities, are socially competent and have strong interpersonal skills, including relationships within their own families. They are also committed to learning and participating in school, and are adaptable to change, able to cope with adversity.

Helping our young people to develop into healthy adults means providing healthy and supportive environments at home, at school, and in the community. Today’s youth are more knowledgeable about their world than their parents were, and certainly their grandparents. They also face more challenges and dangers — we could do worse than to help them along.

— 30 —

Call-out:

“Young people who make a healthy transition into adolescence exhibit a number of common characteristics.”