Carson City youth today face many of the same challenges experienced by their parents/guardians when they were growing up.  Alcohol and tobacco are still easily available to youth and promoted widely in our culture.  The search for identity will always be a cornerstone of adolescence.  Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety disorders effect youth and adults alike.  Learning social skills and conflict resolution skills are still significant tasks faced by our youth.

But there are also pressures that are more unique to our current generation of youth.  The availability of methamphetamines tempts our youth with a drug that offers tremendous euphoria followed quickly be dependence and the destruction of lives.  Prescription drugs are also widely available and shared.  Gang violence is not new, but it is escalating in our community and the lines between "adolescent" values and "gang" values are not as clear as they once were.  Cell phones and internet access add a worrisome dimension to the age old problems of bullying and harassment.  The level of violence portrayed in the entertainment media and on video games just keeps rising.

In our youth section, we will share information about current trends that challenge local youth.  Some news is encouraging ... some discouraging.  We will also highlight youth programs in our area and opportunities for youth to improve the health of our community.