A new survey of more than 33,000 girls ages 12 to 17 years old has revealed that that one in four has experienced a serious fight or attack from another girl in the past year.
Researchers from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found the following:
- 19 percent of the girls had been in a fight at school
- 14 percent had been in a group fight
- 6 percent had attacked someone else with the intention of hurting that person.
Using drugs or alcohol put a girl at higher risk for such fights, SAMHSA reported.
"The findings are all alarming," said SAMHSA spokesperson Pamela Hyde. "We need to do a better job of reaching girls at risk and teaching them how to resolve problems without resorting to violence."
Posted By: Aspen/CRC
