As an individual nearing the end of my teenage years, I have come to find there are a lot of misconceptions about us teenagers. Even though I do technically fall into the category of being a teenager by being between the ages of thirteen and nineteen, as long as I can remember, I have always been regarded as being significantly more mature than my peers. According to what most out-of-touch adults believe about us, we are all alcoholic potheads who have risky, unprotected sex. Although, I have had my short-lived experimental experiences with the first two, believing that all or even most teenagers live this reckless lifestyle is simply untrue and I have the facts to back it.

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Myth #1: Teenagers are alcoholics.

 

        Yes, some teenagers binge drink on the weekends, but are they actually alcoholics and is it really even a problem? Alcoholism is “a chronic, a progressive, potentially fatal disorder marked by excessive and usually compulsive drinking of alcohol leading to psychological and physical dependence or addiction” (“Alcoholism”). There is a line between recreational drinking and drinking due to a dependence on alcohol. In some cases, the line is blurry, but it’s there. According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan from 1975-2014, nearly twice as many twelfth graders in 1978 participated in binge drinking than the number of participating twelfth graders in 2014. Since the completion of the study, the numbers have continued to drop even lower, getting well below 40%. The University of Michigan conducted another study about the disapproval rate among teens of binge drinking and found significant rises in it. In comparison to the mid-late 1970’s twelfth graders, disapproval rates are up nearly 20% (Leonard). Out of the 41,000 teens that participated in the study, fewer teenagers are binge drinking and fewer teens are accepting the idea.

 

Myth #2: Teenagers are potheads.

 

        Some teenagers smoke marijuana, but to say we’re all potheads is a rather hasty generalization. A study conducted by The University of Texas at Austin revealed a trend similar to that of teenage alcohol usage. Over the last 11 years, marijuana usage among teens has has dropped from 26 percent to 22 percent (Davis). Among the general population, there has been a rise in the acceptance of marijuana usage, but the acceptance rate among teens has dropped surprisingly lower than with adults.

 

Myth #3: Teenagers are having risky sex.

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        Throughout my public school career, I’ve had sex education classes three separate times; in the 5th grade, 8th grade, and my freshman year. Those classes taught me the importance of waiting until you were personally ready to have sex, practicing safe sex by using various forms of protection, and the dangers/risks of pregnancy and contracting STDs. I know from my own personal experiences that many of my friends have taken the ideas and lessons from those classes and applied them to their lives, just as I have. Teens are waiting longer to have sex because of their religious beliefs and the education about STDs and the dangers of teen pregnancy (Roy). According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “From 2011 to 2013, 44 percent of female teenagers and 47 percent of male teenagers ages 15 to 19 had had sex, down 14 percent for girls and 22 percent for boys in the last 25 years” (“Teen Births”). Thankfully, in contrast to people of earlier generations and time periods, due to sex education, advancements in medical research, and a shift in culture, people have the option to stabilize themselves in their lives before taking on the task of raising and supporting kids and/or an entire family. Not only are fewer teens starting families, but fewer teens are having sex, and, even better, more and more teens are having protected sex than ever.

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        I came across numerous studies and credible sources that supported the evidence included here. In comparison to teens of other generations throughout history, today’s teens are better educated on the consequences of their decisions, leading them to live smarter and safer than ever and the statistics prove it. To deter the belief that teens are out living very risky, dangerous lifestyles, I encourage everyone to go out and interact with the youth of this generation and ask them about their beliefs and their lifestyle.