The 2000 census states that as of that time there were approximately 25 to 28 millions teens living in the United States. Teens include everyone ages 13 to 19. Teens face their own set of problems and issues. This is also a time in a person's life where they are trying to figure out what they will do with their future. They are trying to get through high school, they begin dating, they start their first job, they begin college, and they begin to develop their own independence.

According to Discovery Health http://health.discovery.com/centers/teen/relationships/sexstds.html, approximately 3 million teens will develop a sexually transmitted disease every year. Much of this is due to peer pressure and inadequate sex education in America's middle schools and high schools. MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23574940 states that one out of every four American teen girls will develop an STD between 13 and 19 years old. According to a 2001 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/women/resources/factsheets/women.htm, approximately 42 percent of all high school girls in the United States are sexually active. More than two-thirds of all reported STD cases occur in people under 25 years of age. Some STD's can be treated relatively easily with antibiotics when caught early, however some cannot be treated such as herpes and HPV because they are viral diseases. Some STD's can cause life-altering, and sometimes life-threatening, complications when they are not diagnosed in a timely manner.

It is estimated that approximately 820,000 teen girls (ages 13 through 19) become pregnant each year in the United States. About eight out of ten of these pregnancies are unplanned. The younger a teen girl is when she starts having sex, the more likely it is that she will become pregnant before her 20th birthday.

Discovery Health http://health.discovery.com/centers/teen/questionstips/facts.htmlalso states that suicide is the leading cause of death for teens between 13 and 14 years old, and the third leading cause of death for teens between 15 and 19 years old. Most teenagers who commit suicide due to because they do feel that they are getting enough attention, acceptance, love, and understanding.

During the ages of 13 through 19 teens begin to develop their independence and how they look at themselves. During this time teens begin developing crushes and dating and learn about its ups and downs. Boys will fret over asking their first girl out and will be deciding who to take to the prom. Girls will begin noticing boys and thinking about their beauty and who to take to the prom. Teens will often land their first job and will begin trying to impress their dates while saving money. They will celebrate their sweet sixteen birthday and purchase their first car. Teens in their senior year of high school will begin making their college plans. The teen years are a time of change, happiness, growth, broken hearts, and tough choices that could change the course of their lives forever.