More than 2 million cases of child abuse and neglect are reported each year in the United States along with an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 new cases of child sexual abuse.

How does child abuse affect our society?

It is estimated that there are 60 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse in America today. Child abuse contributes to our over crowded prisons as nearly 31% of women in prison say they were abused as children.

Child abuse contributes to teen prostitution. More than 95% of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused. Furthermore, teenage prostitution leads to drugs and other serious crimes.

Long term effects of child abuse include fear, anxiety, depression, anger, hostility, inappropriate sexual behavior, poor self esteem, tendency toward substance abuse and difficulty with close relationships. This has a huge impact on our society.

According to a report released by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) the average cost for treatment of alcohol or drug abuse in outpatient facilities was an estimated $1,433 per course of treatment. The economic cost to U.S. society of drug abuse was an estimated $97.7 billion.

The effect of child abuse on our society is overwhelming and getting worse. Many victims of child abuse will also abuse their own children, which is why child abuse has risen to such an unbelievable level.

When our own children reach adulthood, they could easily become involved with the victim of child abuse, which could lead to the abuse of our own grandchildren. Child abuse affects each and every one of us.

Schools have programs in place to try and spot symptoms of child abuse, but so much more needs to be done. Government programs are studying the problems of child abuse and hopefully they can come up with a way to detect child abuse symptoms early on.

Jesus Christ says a lot about how we are to treat each other and He gave a very profound warning concerning the innocent:

"Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 19:13)

"Then said he (Jesus) unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." (Luke 17:1)

Sources:
http://www.findcounseling.com/ journal/child-abuse/child-abus e-statistics.html http://alcoholism.about.com/od /pro/a/blsam040527.htm
http://www.biblegateway.com/ve rsions/index.php?action=getVer sionInfo&vid=9#booklist

Learn more about this author, Pat Lunsford.
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