Preventing Abuse and Violence
In every community and cultural group, every day - thousands of children and youth are harmed by emotional, physical and/or sexual maltreatment.
The ramifications on individuals, families and society are staggering; children and families become embedded in pain and dysfunction, while society attempts to respond with crisis interventions that are often too little, too late.
The cost of violence
A Red Cross study of 17,000 middle class patients (Family, Safety & Health, Winter 2002-03) found child abuse is linked to a variety of social and physical illnesses.
Adults who have experienced abuse are:
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103 % more likely to become smokers
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95 % more likely to become obese
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103% more likely to become alcoholics
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192 % more likely to become addicted to drugs
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43 % more likely to become suicidal
The costs to society of one young person in trouble per year (Hepworth, 2002)
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Child welfare services – visiting, referrals, advice $ 2,300
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Subsidized child care for one child $ 12,000
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Health and psychiatric services $ 2,000
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Foster care $ 7,300
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Group home services $ 36,500
It costs society $77,000 to open custody for one young person and $91,500 to close it.
