http://parentingteens.about.com/b/2008/07/22/what-makes-teens-happy-believe-it-or-not.htm

Hmmm So What Really Makes A teen Happy ?

Believe it or not in a recent seven-month survey of thousands of 12 -24 year olds came up with two potentially happy, peaceful keys: Family and Friends. "It was found that, while us teens do find our parents annoying at times, overall we appreciate the support and we see our parents as friends and kind of a partnership relationship. This was very surprising to the media." But I totally agree with the survey, because there is no better love than the love one recieves from the closets people to us- our Family. At the end of the day thats all we really have in life.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20322801

What worries teens most about going back to school ?
*Schoolwork- 32% *Extracurricular- 3% *Social Issues- 30% *Appearance-25%

A new school year can be fun & exciting. Its a good feeling of having a fresh start, catching up with your friends, and making progress by moving up a grade. But there's no denying that it can be stressful too. Some adults might not think that school can be stressing just for the simple fact that they been passed their school years and they have bigger things to worry about. But truthfully stressing over school can lead to suicidal thoughts, I know because I've been in that situation. Especially being in your senior year it can be very difficult to stay on task and make sure all your is handed in at its assigned due date. Regents & finals can be a killer because those will mostly determine whether you pass or dont.

So If you find yourself preparing for school by hoping for the best and imagining the worst, you're not alone.

http://www.alterheros.com/english/dossier/Articles.cfm?InfoID=113

In today's world, even as awareness and tolerance increase, homosexuality continues to be viewed negatively and through stereotypes. Unfortunately, many of them are treated unfairly throughout society - in church, at school and even in their own homes. At various times homosexuality has been considered a crime, a sickness, a sin or at the very least an abnormality. Given these negative social, religious and familial attitudes it is likely that most gay and lesbian people face difficult and challenging experiences on a regular basis. These youth experience a sense of being different and isolated in the world, and they are at high risk for severe depression and suicide.

Suicide is the 8th leading cause of death in America & is high amongst teens. For Teens ages "15-24, suicide is the third leading cause of death (National Center for Health Statistics, 1997)." As staggering as these numbers may appear, it is widely believed that suicide amongst gay, lesbian and bisexual youth is even more profound. According to Gibson (1989) "gay and lesbian youth have a two to three fold risk of suicide" compared to heterosexual youth. In a recent study by Bagley (1994), "5 out of every 8 suicide attempters were gay or bisexual -- or put another way, gay and bisexual youth are 13.6 times more likely to have attempted suicide than their heterosexual counterparts."

Gay & lesbian teens do not want to kill themselves because they are homosexual, but rather, they want to end the pain of constant rejection and abuse. It is not their sexual identity that leads to depression and the wish to die, but rather, the experiences of living in such an uncaring world.

http://www.jenniferann.org/dating_violence_risks.htm
Warning Signs Of An Abusive Relationship

• History of discipline problems.
• Blames you for his/her anger.
• Serious drug or alcohol use.
• History of violent behavior.
• Threatens others regularly.
• Insults you or calls you names.
• Trouble controlling feelings like anger.
• Tells you what to wear, what to do or how to act.
• Threatens or intimidates you in order to get their way.
• Prevents you from spending time with friends or family.

Having An Over-Obessed Partner Can Be The Beginning Of An Abusive Relationship. When Behavior Changes In A Mate, They Loose Intrest In Things They Once Enjoyed, They Become Secretive & Moody, They Try To To Cover Up Brusies & They Try To Dodge All Questions Concerning Their Relationship Then They Are Going Through Serious Problems.

People in abusive relationships sometimes mistake the abuse for intense feelings of caring or concern. It can even seem flattering. excessive jealousy and controlling behavior are not signs of affection at all. Love involves respect and trust; it doesn't mean constantly worrying about the possible end of the relationship.

http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/facts/whydrugs.aspx?id=search_whatdrugs#
What Is It About Marijuana That Teens Like So Much? What Gets Them Addicted?

• Marijuana is addictive. More teens are in treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined.
• Young teens who use marijuana weekly have double the risk of depression later in life.
• Heavy Marijuana users are more likely than non-users to be diagnosed with schizophrenia later in life. A recent study found that people who had used marijuana more than 50 times before the age of 18, had a three fold increased risk of developing schizophrenia later in life.
• Weed can cause increased heart rate and make some users extremely anxious or paranoid.
• Heavy marijuana use impairs young teens ability to concentrate and retain information.
• The short-term effects of marijuana can include problems with memory and learning.

Some Teens Use Drugs To Run Away From Stress, But Drugs Dont Reduce Stress Or Fix Problems. They Think Drugs Will Make Them Seem Cool Or Tuff, But There Are Other Ways To Get Noticed.

"Stay Above The Influence"

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/06/09/graduating_homeless/

A Student From north High School Named Valencia McMurray Who Just Graduated This year Tells Her Story Of her Struggle To Stay In School & Graduate While Living On Her Own.

Shes Been Living Own Her Own Since She Was In The 10th Grade, Because Her Mother Moved To Oklahoma To Take Care Of Her Grandmother, & Her Father Lived In Wisconsin But She Didnt Really Know Him. After Her Mother Left She Shared An Apartement With One Of Her 4 Siblings In North Minneapolis. They Both Worked At A burger King To Pay The Rent. Sometime Went By & A Couple Of Her Brothers Friend Moved In And Her Brother Ended Up Loosing His Job, So She Had To Support All Of Them, But She Couldnt Do It & That Was Where Her Homelessness Began.

She Started Couch-Hopping, Staying At Friends Places. But She was Missing Alot Of School, And Her Teachers Noticed It. She Didnt Want To Tell Them That She Was Homeless, But They Kept On Asking & Wondering, So She Figured Something Had To give. When She Let Them Know How She Was Living The School Social Worker Found Space For Her At The 'Bridge' (An Emergency Shelter For Teens In South Minneapolis) (Where Shes Been Stayin For The Last 9 Months).

Valencia Says That She Thinks Her Teachers "Did A pretty Good Job Picking Up On Her Situation. She Was Missing Alot Of School, She Wasnt Doing Her Homework As Much As Before And Her Grades Were Slipping."

It Was Hard For Valencia To Keep Herself Motivated, To Get Up In The Morning To Go To School & Do All Her Work. Because When One Is Homeless The Only Thing You Have Are Endless Days & Unhappy Nights.

Should Teen Criminals Be Locked Up In Adult Prisions ?
Some Say That Teens Who Commit Serious Crimes Should Go To Adult Prisons. Others Say That Teens Need Their Own Detention Centers.

"Do The Crime, Do The Time!" Thats What Always Been Said To Criminals, Especially Teens Who Commit Violent Crimes. There Are About Five Thousand Teens Under 18 Behind Bars In Adult Prisons And More To Come. Congress Wants To Pass A New Law That Would Send Teens As Young As 14 To Jail With Adult Criminals. They Argue That Sending Teens To Juvenile Prisons Lets Them Off Easy. They Say That Only Hard Time In Adult Prisons Will Convince A Teen Not To Commit Crimes.

I Believe As Much As Others Do Too That Kids Who Commit Serious Crimes Need Serious Help. They Need To Be In Rehabiliation Or Juvenile Detention Where They Can Clean Up Their Act. Locking Kids Up With Adult Criminals Only Increases Their Problems. They Dont Get The Help They Need. Worse, Adult Prisoners Will Often Attack Young People In Jail. Adult Prison Is No Place For A Yound Teen.