Vices or coming of age? Compassion is key in educating teens

THE headline was pointed and disturbing: “Troubling red flags from adolescent polls” outlined by the National Health and Morbidity Survey that polled teens between 13 and 17 on the permissive concerns of sex, smoking, drugs, alcohol and bullying.

The Health Ministry–sponsored polls, conducted mid-last year, engaged 155,000 teenagers and here’s the discovery: 33 per cent had sex before they were 14, 75 per cent reported more recent sexual activities, 88 per cent admitted to disregarding birth control and 11 per cent use multiple partners.

On vaping, there was a significant hike (males make up 23 per cent while females constituted 1.7 per cent) to 15 per cent while conventional smoking dropped to 6.2 per cent.

On booze, 65 per cent had their first alcoholic drink before 14 while 25 per cent admitted to getting loaded.

On drug use, 106,000 experimented at least once while 60,000 are still actively using. Three out four adolescents used drugs before they were 14.

On cyber-bullying, one in five teens bullied others, 11 per cent posted rude comments while seven per cent spread rumours about others.

The polls, however, also outlined that 15 per cent were physically bullied with 16 per cent made up of boys.

All in all, another epoch of what is a timeless trend of generational continuity: adolescents coming of age teeming with curiosity and inherent urges to experiment, perhaps influenced by peers and pop culture.

Ironically and predictably, the polls triggered chastisement from adults, who probably went through the same growth pangs and angst of their younger years.

Should we, the current adults, be concerned? Of course. But should we be overly alarmed? Think of your younger days and recall your (mis)behaviour roiling in sex, booze and drugs. Were you any different? Most of us outgrew that “sensitive” phase and went on to be productive citizens, some becoming CEOs, top professionals, entrepreneurs and, not to put a fine point to it, activists and politicians who own a big say in the direction of this nation.

What happened was life and its underlying pressures as we know it. Teens leave high school to enter college and universities where a new pressure persist: studying hard to earn that degree dearly paid by your parents.

Then another kind of pressure appeared: the mad rush to file resumes and win that first job. Depending on their qualifications, it could be blue collar job or one that involves the intellect or in this social media era, one that affects the posture staring at computers and hand-held devices.

After that, a new pressure presents itself: finding a mate and get married, and then before they realise it, kids arrive and the whole pangs and angst of sex, drugs and booze get recycled – again.

We are not saying that people should brush aside the poll findings but they should not be alarmed and invoke alarmist tendencies.

Let’s be honest: the findings showed that the so-called vices are a tradition of sorts and no amount of alarmism will change this trend.

What we should focus on is sensible education and room to accommodate the straggling teens, especially those who totter by the wayside and can’t seem to get their act together.

The sentiment required here is empathy and compassion, not a codified rod that seeks to punish and alienate the kids, and consigning them to “re-education” classes.

Remember, they have time in their hands to mature and more importantly, they are your future voters, so be extremely cautious in automatically opting for punitive punishments.

It might severely bite you at the ballot box.

Azmi Anshar is a retired newspaper editor and award-winning commentator, who also likes to indulge in books, music, movies and his grandkids.

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.