The Unspoken Deadly Epidemic
Posted: Monday, August 23, 2010
by Grace O'Malley
Hush, don't say anything. Turn the other way. It's none of my business.
There is an epidemic going on few even acknowledge. A blind eye isn't being turned here, we're talking blindness, deafness and total ignorance keeps this disease hidden and it's not getting any better.
Did you know that 5.8 million children were involved in 3.2 million cases of abuse in 2007? That many were stabbed, beaten, thrown and choked? That they were used as sexual playthings at the age of 3, put in closets to sleep at the age of 5 and starved into comas at the age of 7? That verbal abuse in most families isn't even considered abuse at all, but merely giving out what is deserved?
Yes, we are advocates of children's rights and proudly so. Many of you may think that is such a sweet thing, pat us on the head and move on. Thanks you. But take a moment and read some of these statistics:
-Almost five children die every day as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4.
-It is estimated that between 60-85% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates.
-A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.
-Ninety percent of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members.
-Child abuse occurs at every socio-economic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.
-Thirty-one percent of women in prison in the United States were abused as children.
-Over 60% of people in drug rehabilitation centers report being abused or neglected as a child.
-About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.
-About 80% of 21 year olds that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.
-Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy
-Children who experience child abuse & neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.
-Children who have been sexually abused are 2.5 times more likely develop alcohol abuse
-Children who have been sexually abused are 3.8 times more likely develop drug addiction
-Nearly 2/3's of the people in treatment for drug abuse reported being abused as children
(multiple sources were used for these statistics)
In these economic times tempers can get frayed. Loss of job and income can have a huge impact on you and your family. Not only are those losses hard to handle, the loss of self-esteem is equally as difficult to deal with.
It is not easy keeping your cool when your kids want something you cannot afford to buy. It is hard when you have a baby that cries all the time and you cannot afford to take them to a doctor. It is almost impossible not to want to rip something apart when you cannot afford to feed yourself, more or less the other mouths depending on you.
For those who have never experienced such a life, be grateful. Very, very grateful.
No matter what though, there is absolutely NO excuse to ever intentionally harm a child. EVER. Whether it is physically, emotionally or sexually, children deserve our protection. If things become so difficult you cannot handle it, find someone to watch your children for a while. Take a break. BREATHE. THINK before acting. If you know someone who is abusing a child, report them to someone. It is not an easy decision to make and yes, there can be small consequences, but what would you rather do: report it and have someone upset with you or see a child be destroyed, maimed or even dead because you were afraid.
Think of how afraid they are.
Could you live with doing nothing?
There is an epidemic going on few even acknowledge. A blind eye isn't being turned here, we're talking blindness, deafness and total ignorance keeps this disease hidden and it's not getting any better.
Did you know that 5.8 million children were involved in 3.2 million cases of abuse in 2007? That many were stabbed, beaten, thrown and choked? That they were used as sexual playthings at the age of 3, put in closets to sleep at the age of 5 and starved into comas at the age of 7? That verbal abuse in most families isn't even considered abuse at all, but merely giving out what is deserved?
-Almost five children die every day as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4.
-It is estimated that between 60-85% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates.
-A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds.
-Ninety percent of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way; 68% are abused by family members.
-Child abuse occurs at every socio-economic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.
-Thirty-one percent of women in prison in the United States were abused as children.
-Over 60% of people in drug rehabilitation centers report being abused or neglected as a child.
-About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.
-About 80% of 21 year olds that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.
-Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy
-Children who experience child abuse & neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.
-Children who have been sexually abused are 2.5 times more likely develop alcohol abuse
-Children who have been sexually abused are 3.8 times more likely develop drug addiction
-Nearly 2/3's of the people in treatment for drug abuse reported being abused as children
(multiple sources were used for these statistics)
In these economic times tempers can get frayed. Loss of job and income can have a huge impact on you and your family. Not only are those losses hard to handle, the loss of self-esteem is equally as difficult to deal with.
It is not easy keeping your cool when your kids want something you cannot afford to buy. It is hard when you have a baby that cries all the time and you cannot afford to take them to a doctor. It is almost impossible not to want to rip something apart when you cannot afford to feed yourself, more or less the other mouths depending on you.
For those who have never experienced such a life, be grateful. Very, very grateful.
No matter what though, there is absolutely NO excuse to ever intentionally harm a child. EVER. Whether it is physically, emotionally or sexually, children deserve our protection. If things become so difficult you cannot handle it, find someone to watch your children for a while. Take a break. BREATHE. THINK before acting. If you know someone who is abusing a child, report them to someone. It is not an easy decision to make and yes, there can be small consequences, but what would you rather do: report it and have someone upset with you or see a child be destroyed, maimed or even dead because you were afraid.
Think of how afraid they are.
Could you live with doing nothing?
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)These statistics make me want to cry. I've known so many who have been victims themselves and have a hard time getting past it. Thank you for sharing this information.I know what you mean. Every day more and more children are becoming victims and cannot protect themselves.Thank you for stopping by and commenting.Grace
Hope your article touches many lives. It carries with it realities people would like to pretend do not exist. My daughter in law works for protective services for seniors and the stories are almost the same only its children abusing parents. This kind of abuse in families goes around in circles and it is very hard to remove yourself from the chain of life long patterns and to get into recovery as you so aptly stated. Thanks for sharing.I appreciate your coming by and leaving a comment. Abuse is an ongoing situation that needs to be stopped. No matter the age.Grace
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