American Kids Today: Better or Worse?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), teen pregnancy and birth rates in the U.S. have been declining since 1991 and hit a record low in 2019. 


The CDC also indicates that young Americans are less and less inclined to have sexual intercourse during their high school years. This trend makes sense of the drop in teen pregnancy today.


How about drug and alcohol use? The National Institute on Drug Abuse found in 2021 that American teens have continuously been smoking less and drinking less for decades. Indeed, between 1991 and 2019, the percentage (%) of American teens having "ever tried cigarette smoking" came down from 70 to 24. During the same period, there has also been a sharp percentage fall in current smokers (from 27.5% in 1991 to 6% in 2019).


The above findings show that today's American kids are doing better. Prove it if you believe otherwise.


--- by 寒苇

所有跟帖： 

• What a pleasant surprise you've brought us! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 21:53:13

• I also brought myself a pleasant surprise. -寒苇- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 21:54:12

• Why was it a pleasant surprise to you? -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 21:56:56

• I didn't expect American kids to have done so much better. -寒苇- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 21:58:02

• You're not the only one. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 21:58:38

• It's the trend that's most encouraging. -寒苇- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:00:38

• Right on. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:01:18

• 其实何止是孩子。用文中的1991年比现在，重要的指标，如医疗和社会保障，今天好很多，暴力犯罪率今天低很多。。。他们不信。 -唐宋韵- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:04:19

• 谢谢唐宋君。对呀。当然，那些mass shootings的负面影响太大了。 -寒苇- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:11:05

• 与里根、马丁路德金、肯尼迪被刺比如何？ -唐宋韵- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:34:02

• 另外，可以查查1970年的五四美国发生了什么。。。与此同时宇航员也在登月呢。 -唐宋韵- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:48:19

• 唐宋君所说的都是历史性的震撼事件。现时不时发生的持枪滥杀无辜事件，也震撼人心。不是人人都是大人物，但是人人都有可能受害。 -寒苇- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:55:28

• 恕我直言，从你的帖子我感觉，你恐怕也是我上面说的“他们”中的一位，被如今的新闻，特别是社交媒体牵着鼻子走，忘了如今 -唐宋韵- ♂ (398 bytes) () 05/22/2023 postreply 05:55:43

• 其实，简单地说“昔不如今”或“今不如昔”都不合适。我们今天处于一个完全不同的时代，面临着完全不同的 -唐宋韵- ♂ (411 bytes) () 05/22/2023 postreply 06:25:30

• Howdy, everyone? -shuier- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:02:04

• Great. We're sharing some good news about American kids. -寒苇- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:03:28

• Your post is the message. You're the messenger. -shuier- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:05:04

• I'm proud to be the messenger. -寒苇- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:13:05

• BTW,people tend to think that statistical reports are boring -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:15:31

• Maybe we should collect statistics about boredom. -寒苇- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:18:14

• Go ahead. A study of boredom would be super-exciting. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:19:43

• But first, help me to apply for a grant. -寒苇- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:22:35

• Yes, if you're serious enough. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:23:16

• Let me join the fun. -shuier- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:24:41

• Only if you're serious enough. -寒苇- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:25:33

• Fair enough. -shuier- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/21/2023 postreply 22:26:03

• mental heath and substance abuse get worse, especially in last -AP33912- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/22/2023 postreply 05:00:00

• I think a lot of people share your impression. But proof? -寒苇- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/22/2023 postreply 07:19:02

• i have report/data from my company but can't share here. -AP33912- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/22/2023 postreply 07:53:00

• 两个分开的问题：1. 近年吸毒总人数不如一两代人以前；2.现在吸毒造成的死亡比那时多得多。这是因为 -唐宋韵- ♂ (331 bytes) () 05/22/2023 postreply 10:06:31

• 主要是这几年mental health may have got worse。 -AP33912- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/22/2023 postreply 10:10:00

• Main reason: Fentanyl is cheap and easily available. Much -唐宋韵- ♂ (203 bytes) () 05/22/2023 postreply 10:20:49

• 刚出来：https://www.wenxuecity.com/news/2023/05/22/12331413.html -唐宋韵- ♂ (0 bytes) () 05/22/2023 postreply 12:01:19

• 1. I'm talking about teenagers. 2. I'm talking about trends. -寒苇- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/22/2023 postreply 14:32:08

• Keep your data then. Thanks, AP! -寒苇- ♀ (0 bytes) () 05/22/2023 postreply 14:29:55