2025 – PAGE 72 – ADOLESCENT MEDICINE

CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent BACTERIAL STD. Much more on chlamydia in the ID section.

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

Motor Vehicle Accidents are the leading cause of adolescent morbidity and mortality. Next is HOMICIDE. “Cars are common to every adolescent neighborhood in the country; guns and violence are common only in certain ones.”

GUNS

Fifty percent of homes have guns. Seventy-five percent of teen homicides are due to guns. Ninety percent of suicide attempts are successful. A gun in the home increases the risk of teen suicide by five times. The AAP recommends against having guns in the home. If a gun is present, it should be unloaded, kept in a locked location that is out of reach from children and in a SEPARATE location from the bullets. Bullets should also be locked away and out of reach.

PEARL: Gun LOCKS have not been shown to decrease injuries from firearms.

HOMOSEXUALITY

Homosexual students are MORE likely to abuse substances.

SELF CONSENT

“Mature minors” may self-consent.