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everyday life

Reasons Why Teenagers Run Away

by Kathryn Hatter, studioD

One in seven adolescents will run away in their lifetime,

and as many as 3 million kids are on the run in the United
States, according to GirlsHealth.gov, a website created by
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The
reasons for running away can dier as much as the kids
themselves.
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Teenagers hit the streets for a variety of
reasons.

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Drugs or Alcohol

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Drugs or alcohol can have a signicant eect on a

teenager deciding to run. The substance abuse might be
present in the one or both parents or in the teenager
himself, according to the KidsHealth website. A teenager
who runs because of a substance abuse habit might seek to
hide the problem from parents. Life on the run can make a
drug or alcohol habit grow worse because the teen could
turn to substances to get through the day.

Abuse

When abuse is present in a family, a teenager can reach a point where she feels its too dangerous to stay. If
the home is abusively critical, a teenager can develop such feelings of anger, fear and failure that running
seems to be the only option, said James Lehman with the Empowering Parents website. Children might have an
idealistic vision of what life on the street will entail, possibly deciding that this option is preferable to
continuing to live at home.

Family Diculties
Many family circumstances can make running away attractive to teenagers. A divorce and subsequent
blended family with stepparents and siblings can create a dicult life for teenagers. A teenager might leave in
haste after an argument or intense conict with parents, according to the Focus Adolescent Services website. A
teenager might also choose to run as a result of communication problems with family members, according to
the Minnesota Adopt website.

Peer Pressure

Peer pressure can also play a part in running away. If a teenager does something or makes a mistake that
causes fear of reprisal or consequences, the teens peers might suggest or encourage running. If a teen lacks
eective problem-solving skills, running away might seem the perfect solution, warned Lehman. Instead of
approaching a circumstance with a positive attitude to resolve it, the teen might cave in to pressure to run. Its
even possible for a predator to inuence a teenager to run away, warns the Focus Adolescent Services website.
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References
GirlsHealth.gov: Running Away(http://www.girlshealth.gov/feelings/runaway/index.cfm)
Kids Health: Running Away(http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/home_family/running_away.html#)
Empowering Parents: Running Away Part I: Why Kids Do It and How to Stop
Them(http://www.empoweringparents.com/Runaway-Teens-Why-They-Do-It-and-How-to-StopThem.php#)
Focus Adolescent Services: Why Teens Run Away(http://www.focusas.com/RunawaysWhyTeensRunAway.html)
Minnesota Adopt: Teen Runaways(http://www.mnadopt.org/Factsheets/Teen%20Runaways.pdf)

About the Author

Kathryn Hatter is a veteran home-school educator, as well as an accomplished gardener, quilter, crocheter,
cook, decorator and digital graphics creator. As a regular contributor to Natural News, many of Hatter's
Internet publications focus on natural health and parenting. Hatter has also had publication on home
improvement websites such as Redbeacon.

Photo Credits
Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images