Teenagers in Hartford, Connecticut have been involved in more and more dangerous situation from drug use to sexual assault because of the community becoming more unsafe and cases from 1/14/2022 and 7/24/21 shows how impactful it truly is on the lives of teens.

According to the Hartford Courant, it says, “The 13-year-old Hartford boy who overdosed Thursday on fentanyl has died, police said late Saturday… The student, a seventh-grader at the Sports and Medical Sciences Academy school, had remained unresponsive and in “grave condition” after ingesting the drug, which subsequent tests confirmed to be fentanyl, police spokesperson Lt. Aaron Boisvert said Friday… Two other seventh-graders were believed to be exposed to the drug and were also transported to the hospital, officials said. Both were released to their parents Thursday night, Boisvert has said.” This shows that kids even at the age of 13 year old can easily get their hands on such a deadly and powerful drug and potentially harm themselves or others. Especially since the school’s area isn’t safe and the staff aren’t taking precautionary measures to keep the kids safe. Also from Drug Abuse, it shows statistics of youth overdose in 2019. It explains that in 2019, there were 4,777 youth overdoses, most of which were males and it was mostly by heroin and other illicit opioids. 

According to the information I found it appears that “People often try drugs for the first time in social situations with friends and acquaintances. A strong desire to fit into the group can make it feel like doing the drugs with them is the only option.” This was pulled from the HelpGuide and it really shades some light on the why aspect of teen drug use. Knowing why a problem might be happening is a good way to help prevent it and yet that becomes increasingly difficult in a place where these dangerous substances or more are available even in a school building.

According to Rainn Children and Teens Statistics, every 9 minutes child protective services substantiates, or finds evidence for a claim of child sexual abuse. In addition, one in 9 girls and 1 in 53 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault. Sexual abuse and assault within American youth society is so frequent that its so hard to track. Rape and assault poses as a huge issue in the Unites States today. However, it happens to adults as well, it weighs heavily on teens and children under 18. It is deeply unfortunate the trauma that the American youth go through and have been going through for so long now.  According to phycologist, victims of sexual abuse in general tend to self blame themselves for their abusers action. In addition, sexual assault can cause post traumatic stress and sever anxiety due to the victim still being mentally and physically traumatized and not fully healed. For example, many who get lawful justice still often fear their abuser coming back or another person doing the same. Rape and assault is horrible within itself, but the side affects are really the start of everlasting pain that youth have a hard time healing from. The after math of all the sexual abuse can leave a mental scar on the American youth society. It is horrifying the long term pain and damage that happens to 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 53 boys that experience sexual abused. 

According to the Hartford Courant, ¨Lawhorn is accused of using his position as a coach and advocate to coerce sex acts over the last four years from three teenage members of the Bria Holmes’ AAU girls basketball program who were hoping to earn college basketball scholarships.¨This is an example of how people with power in our communities can abuse their power and strip little girls of their dignity. Stories like these are devastating to hear and should not be swept under the rug. When things like this happen to these girls it’s a wound that never heals. Another source that shows this is Rain and they state, ¨Sexual violence can have psychological, emotional, and physical effects on a survivor. During a flashback, memories of past traumas feel as if they are taking place in the current moment.¨ This lasting effect could seriously alter the lives of the young women.

All this information shows that sexual abuse and drug abuse in school is denturalmental toward students physical and mental well-being and over all can cause the decline of trust and stability within a community among the adults.