FYI -- January 2012
by Houston Family Magazine
New Survey Shows Renewed Progress in Reducing Youth Smoking
In good news for the nation’s health, a recently-released Monitoring the Future survey shows that youth smoking declined significantly in 2011 and that youth smoking rates are at the lowest levels on record for all three grades surveyed (8th, 10th, and 12th). This news is especially welcome following several years in which the decline in youth smoking rates had nearly stalled. However, the rate of decline continues to be slower than in years past, underscoring the need for elected officials at all levels to step up implementation of proven strategies to reduce tobacco use.
For all three grades combined, the number of students who said they had smoked cigarettes in the past month fell from 12.8 percent in 2010 to 11.7 percent in 2011. The largest drop came among 10th graders, whose smoking rate fell from 13.6 percent to 11.8 percent. The 2011 smoking rate was 6.1 percent for 8th graders and 18.7 percent for 12th graders.
Since youth smoking peaked in the mid-1990s, smoking rates have fallen by 71 percent, 61 percent, and 49 percent in grades 8, 10, and 12, respectively. This is a remarkable public health success story and powerful evidence that we can win the fight against tobacco by implementing scientifically proven strategies. These include higher tobacco taxes and well-funded tobacco prevention and cessation programs that include mass media campaigns, strong smoke-free laws, and effective regulation of tobacco products and marketing.
Those Who Victimize Children Are Usually Not Strangers
The recent events at Penn State University and Syracuse University serve as reminders that child sexual abuse and exploitation is an all-too-common tragedy in America. Despite these very public scandals, however, millions of Americans refuse to believe that the problem exists at all. Why and how is this possible?
Overwhelmingly, the child victims do not tell. Leading scholars and researchers tell us that at least 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized in some way before they reach the age of 18, but only 1 in 3 will tell anybody about it. These are America’s hidden victims. We have made progress as a nation in attacking this problem, but even today, two out of three child victims suffer in silence. They don’t tell their parents or teachers; they don’t tell anybody.
Millions doubt the existence of these heinous crimes for another reason: the offenders don’t usually seem to be anything “out of the ordinary” until their crimes are revealed. Most Americans want to believe that someone who would prey upon a child sexually is evil-looking—a menacing, frightening stranger. Yet there is overwhelming evidence proving that most of the time, those who victimize children are not strangers to the child. Instead, they are members of the child’s community who have sought out ways to have legitimate access to the child. It is not uncommon for someone who abuses children to work or volunteer at a youth-serving organization, like a school or daycare center, or to have legitimate reasons to frequent other settings that provide easy, low-risk access to children. That is why the leading child-serving organizations have taken bold steps to do thorough background checks on their staff and volunteers, and then carefully monitor and supervise the interactions between adults and children after the staff members are hired.
In monitoring sex offender treatment groups and programs, one hears a chilling word: “grooming.” Most often, the offenders who prey upon children do not snatch their victims randomly from the streets. Instead, they “groom” their victims by winning the children’s confidence and trust through friendship and kindness before violating that trust. In many cases, the child is made to feel responsible for his or her own betrayal—as if he or she is to blame for the abuse. The child is also often intimidated or threatened by his or her abuser: he or she may be threatened with physical violence or may be made to feel that if anyone “finds out,” the child, rather than the abuser, will be blamed for the abuse (reinforcing the idea in the child’s mind that he or she is to blame or was somehow “asking for it”).
Even if they decide to tell, will anyone listen to them? Will anyone understand? Abused children often feel that no one will believe them even if they do speak out, and too many adults simply do not listen to or understand what children try to tell us.
The offenders are usually not menacing strangers. Too often, they are outwardly respectable citizens: doctors, lawyers, businessmen, teachers, police officers. Often, they are people who put on an outward show of making a deep and enduring commitment to helping children in need.
What can you do? What can every citizen do?
First, communicate with your children and empower them. Make sure that they understand that you love them, trust them, and believe them unconditionally, and that if anyone ever touches them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable, they should tell you or a trusted adult right away.
Second, the first line of defense is a vigilant public. If you see it, know about it, or suspect it, report it. Call your local police department, then call 1 (800) THE LOST, or report it to www.cybertipline.com at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. We are all responsible for protecting those who are unable to protect themselves.
