Updated
kac October 20 2009

Hot Button Topics

There are a lot of “hot-button” topics out there and sometimes parents do not know when or how toapproach these topics, yet if they do not talk to their teen about these issues parents essentially allow society (peers, school, television, Internet) to raise and form the moral character of their child.

It is easy for parents to hear about these issues and think, “I know that's a concern for some people, but it doesn't affect my teen.” However, parents are often surprised at what their teenager, and their teen's friends, experience. For example, easyaccess on the Internet has made pornography a much larger problem among young people than many adults realize.

Sexuality

Sex and sexuality are perhaps the biggest of the “hot button” issues. A lot has been said on the topic and a lot more can be said. The issues are varied and extensive: sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, pornography, sex education in schools, chastity programs, GLBT, etc.

Once again, it can be easy for parents to think their teenager is unaffected by these issues but according to the Center for Disease Control and Protection, in 2007, 48 percent of high school students had reported having had sexual intercourse.

• True Love Waits challenges teenagers and college students to make a commitment to sexual abstinence until marriage.
• Theology of the Body for Teens proposes a way to appropriately incorporate God and sex using Pope John Paul II’s teaching on life and love.
• Adults who want to learn more about John Paul II’s Theology of the Body could look at the following resources. Check out the new book, Called to Love, and the websites www.theologyofthebody.net and Catholic Exchange.
• Some teens struggle with same-sex attraction and they need trusted and informed adults with whom they can discuss this sensitive topic. Information on GLBT (gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgendered) issues can be found on the Courage website and with the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Protection has information about issues concerning different life stages and specific populations.

Drugs and Alcohol

Abusing alcohol and drugs are still a problem among adolescents. We often hear about how the problem has escalated as drug potency and accessibility have increased in recent years. Also concerning is the abuse of over-the-counter medicines and prescription drugs, and teen athletes who experiment with performance enhancing substances.

• The National Institute on Drug Abuse has a lot of information for parents and youth workers. There is also teen site, educating them on the dangers of drug abuse.
• The Partnership for a Drug-Free America provides many articles and tips for educating parents and teens.
• Time to Talk is a website with easy to use guides on how to talk to your teen about drugs and alcohol.

Cutting/Self-Injury/Suicide

In the United States, suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth between the ages of 10 and 24. Approximately 4500 young lives are lost each year to suicide and many more survive a suicide attempt, and still other teens engage in risky self-injury behaviors like “cutting.”

If you, or someone you know, is in crisis call 911 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention have information on risk factors, warning signs, and what to do if you think someone is considering suicide.
• To Write Love on Her Arms—from their website: “To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also invest directly into treatment and recovery.”
• Check out the National Institute of Mental Health for more information on depression and other mental illnesses that affect teens and adults.