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ABUSE AMONG CHILDREN

The early onset of alcohol and drug abuse among children is clearly documented. A surprising number of children took their first drinks or had their first experience with narcotics before age 10. It is noteworthy that alcohol and drug use occurs mainly at home or in the home of a friend, but 2% of the older students (i.e., those in 9th grade and up) also report using drugs or alcohol in school.

CHILD ABUSE

Data collection on child abuse compiled by the National Center of Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) since 1976 shows a significant increase in rate of reporting of 331%. About 54% of these reports cannot be substantiated by investigation, but that does not mean they did not occur: nor does it mean that the substantiated cases represent all the cases of child abuse. Many remain unreported. Even with only 41% substantiated or “indicated” (i.e., there is good reason to suspect that abuse occurred) 993,000 children suffered abuse of one type or another during 1992, the last year for which we have data. While the largest number of victims suffered general neglect, 37% suffered physical or sexual abuse. Seventy-nine percent of all victims were least able to defend themselves, ie., they were 7 years old or younger and slightly over half were female. The perpetrators were in most cases (91%) parents and relatives, but “noncaretakers,” foster parents, and facility and child care staff accounted for 7% of the cases.