By The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Data from the most recent National Survey of Adolescents and other studies indicate
that one in four children and adolescents in the United States experiences at least one
potentially traumatic event before the age of 162, and more than 13% of 17-year-olds—one
in eight—have experienced posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at some point in their
lives.
Most, if not all, of these young people also have access to a wide range of psychoactive
substances that can both dull the effects of stress and place teens at increased risk
of experiencing trauma. It is estimated that 29% of adolescents–nearly one in three–have
experimented with illegal drugs by the time they complete 8th grade, and 41% have
consumed alcohol.4 For many adolescents, such early experimentation eventually progresses
to abuse of—or dependence on—illicit drugs or alcohol. Every year, approximately one in five
American adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 engages in abusive/dependent or
problematic use of illicit drugs or alcohol.
Share This Post!
What’s the Best Treatment for PTSD in Children?
By Joan Kaufman, PhD Joan Kaufman, PhD, of the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University, discusses the different stages of trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy, or TF-CBT, the best evidence-based intervention for children who [...]
Expert Consensus Regarding Indicators of a Traumatic Reaction in Autistic Youth: A Delphi Survey
By Connor M Kerns, Diana L Robins, Paul T Shattuck, Craig J Newschaffer, & Steven J Berkowitz It has been suggested that the sequelae of trauma are under-recognized in youth on the autism spectrum. [...]
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Traumatic Events
By Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center Children and adolescents are exposed to a number of different traumatic events that can spark a lot of emotions and physical reactions. The effects of [...]
Trauma screening may help connect children to specific mental health services
By Penn State Each year between 200,000 and 270,000 children and youth enter foster care placements with child welfare services, and many more children receive child welfare services while remaining in [...]
The Mental Health of Minority and Marginalized Young People: An Opportunity for Action
By Vivek H. Murthy, Surgeon General Mental health is an essential part of overall health. It not only affects the ability of young people to succeed in school, at work, and [...]
How to Break the Cycle of Childhoold Trauma? Help a Baby’s Parents
By Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR Teresa Cox-Bates was only 11 years old when her father died, an event that dramatically altered her family's circumstances and shaped her childhood experiences. Studies also show [...]