Adolescent Health

Safety, Violence and Juvenile Justice

Violence is one of the leading causes of death and injuries among young people between the ages of 10 and 24 in the United States. Violence can take different forms, such as fighting, bullying, threats with weapons, and gang-related violence. Recent data reveal that violence or the threat of violence has significant impact on daily life for some young people in the District and even causes some students to miss school regularly [3].

Research on differential treatment of Black youth reveals that Black boys and girls are perceived as older and more likely to be guilty than their white peers, and that police violence against them is more justified [4]. The combination of racism, sexism, and cultural expectations that end with Black girls receiving harsher school discipline, take shape in interactions with systems outside of schools (such as law enforcement and courts) and uniquely affects Black girls’ entry and outcomes in the juvenile justice system. Research on Black girls shows they are more likely to be seen as hypersexual and are less likely to be seen as victims of violence and trauma. As a result, they are more vulnerable to justice involvement when it stems from unaddressed trauma [5].

Mental and Emotional Health

The adolescent years mark major physical, social, and psychological milestones for young people. Mental and emotional support are critically important components of youth development during this transitional period of their lives. The prevalence of depression in the US and the District among adolescents and young adults is on the rise, leading to a growing number of young people with untreated depression. Many DC youth experience prolonged depression that interferes with everyday activities, and many report they are not able to find the help they need.

Between 2012-2017 in the District of Columbia, an annual average of about 48.5% of youth aged 12-17 with a major depressive episode received depression care [8]. Furthermore, some are experiencing suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, particularly females of color and LGB youth. There is a great need for culturally appropriate prevention and intervention programs that promote strong mental and emotional health among DC youth.

Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs

Alcohol and drug use increases the risk of injuries, violence, HIV infection, depression, and other health problems among young people and continues to be a public health concern around the country. While alcohol and illegal drug use is down overall from ten years ago in DC, certain groups of DC youth appear to be more at risk. LGB youth were disproportionately represented among youth who used alcohol, tobacco and drugs in 2017 [3]. Understanding the behaviors of these groups is critical to developing effective prevention and intervention programs for DC youth. Although drug use and addiction can happen at any time during a person’s life, drug use typically starts in adolescence, a period when the first signs of mental illness commonly appear. Co-morbid disorders can also be seen among youth. During the transition to young adulthood (ages 18 to 25 years), people with co-morbid disorders need coordinated support to help them navigate potentially stressful changes in education, work, and relationships [9].

Vaping, or smoking e-cigarettes, is receiving renewed attention amid recent illnesses and deaths that were linked to vaping. DC law already prohibits the sale of vaping products to anyone under the age of 21, but lawmakers introduced two bills in September 2019 that would ban flavored e-cigarettes and require a prescription to purchase other electronic smoking products. [10]

Promising Practices & Policies:

• Attendance interventions for chronically absent students provide support and resources to address individual factors that contribute to absences such as low self-esteem, school anxiety, social skills, medical conditions, familial factors such as poverty, parental support; and school factors such as teacher/student relationships and bullying.

• Dropout prevention programs for teen mothers

• Lead abatement programs can improve health outcomes for children and adolescents by reducing developmental disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder-related behaviors (ADHD), anemia, hypertension, and kidney and brain damage.

• School-based social and emotional instruction

• Addressing bullying in school wellness policies can demonstrate strong support for full inclusion in healthy eating and physical activity opportunities by including anti-bullying measures that affirm positive, supportive, safe and inclusive school environments.

• Addressing segregation by income, race, and ethnicity as rigorous evidence shows that neighborhoods matter in shaping life chances. Yet economic and racial segregation means that children of different races and incomes often grow up in neighborhoods with vastly different sets of resources and opportunities.