TEENAGE RUNAWAYS

Mark Twain's book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is considered one of the greatest works of American literature. It is the story of a boy who runs away from home, in part because of his abusive father. In keeping with the American concept of individualism, the boy's experiences as a runaway, both good and bad, help him grow as a person and establish his independence and maturity. The plight¹ of modern runaways, however, differs greatly from Twain's narrative.

A runaway, or "youth in crisis," is a child or teen who chooses to leave home without parental consent; most are unprepared for such independence. According to the Children's Defense Fund, as many as 7,000 young Americans run away every day. Seventy-five percent of these youths depend on friends or relatives for food and shelter. For the remaining twenty-five percent, life on the street is anything but romantic. In fact, it is even prohibited by law in some parts of the United States and other countries. Habitual² runaways who are under the age of eighteen may be sent to a facility for wards³ of the state, or even juvenile detention centers if they are caught breaking other laws, such as those against vagrancy⁴, trespassing, or petty theft⁵. Many runaways become involved in crime as a result of their circumstances; often, the only ones willing to help them have predatory⁶ motives. The trauma that teenagers face in this situation would be difficult enough without these added troubles from people around them.

Regardless of whether they are caught for minor crimes, homeless life is unpleasant and dangerous. In the United States, for example, social services for runaways tend to be underfunded and understaffed. Runaways often become the victims of violence or theft at insufficiently monitored shelters—even more so than on the streets. And homelessness is often accompanied by health threats, such as hygiene⁷ issues, poor nutrition, food poisoning, and exposure to cold.

The rates of substance abuse among runaways are far above national averages. Alcohol use, for instance, is at eighty-nine percent for US runaways, compared with thirty-five percent among their non-runaway peers. This is in part because many runaways began with addictions that preceded and sometimes precipitated their leaving home. Young girls are particularly at risk for rape, sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS, and pregnancy. And the longer a teenager remains on the streets, the less likely he or she will be to go to college or learn a trade later on. While running away may seem to be an escape from an intolerable⁸ situation, homeless life provides neither shelter nor relief.

For runaways, the motivation behind the act is usually less the assertion of free will than the urgent need to escape, as they are almost always escaping from something or someone. The most commonly cited reason for running away, at thirty percent of youths polled by the National Runaway Safeline (NRS), is family dynamics. One or both parents may suffer from alcoholism or some other addiction. Youths from families with one or more parents who have substance abuse problems are particularly at risk of neglect or abuse, whether physical or emotional. In situations of chronic⁹ abuse, running away may seem reasonable. While a teenager's desire to flee an abusive home life is understandable, there are cases where the source of motivation is less obvious.

Teenagers occasionally run away from stable households, too. When contacted, youths in crisis also cite problems with peers, economic problems, or psychological problems. According to data collected by the US National Institutes of Health, homeless and runaway youth are six times more likely than their non-runaway peers of the same age to meet the diagnostic criteria for at least two mental disorders. And they are seventeen times more likely to meet the criteria for one disorder.

Runaways who require psychiatric treatment, which in most countries the state is not obliged to provide, present a unique problem. If families are also unable to provide this sort of treatment, it is likely to lead to a vicious circle¹⁰. While improved social programs can help in keeping runaways physically safe, this alone does nothing to address psychological issues. Although there are more questions than answers about appropriate treatment options, one thing is certain: runaways need more help than they are receiving.

• diagnostic 
• motive
• precede
• precipitate
• psychiatric
• trauma

Signs of a Troubled Teen

Nearly all runaways come from homes in which there are clear problems. It is important for parents to be aware of the possibility that their child may run away and of the warning signs that often precede it.

One major warning sign is a sudden change in behavior. This change may be one of eating or sleeping habits. A young person may suddenly start overeating or not eating enough. He or she may begin sleeping all day or staying up all night. Changes in social habits can also indicate problems, particularly when a teenager becomes withdrawn from friends and outside contacts. If a young person begins to show sudden swings in mood, going from very happy to very sad, for example, there is a good chance that he or she is undergoing some sort of stress that is difficult to resolve.

Other warning signs include sudden rebellious behavior like fighting or skipping school, as well as accumulating money, clothes, and other personal items in one place, like a bag or backpack. Parents may even hear their child talk about his or her intention to run away. Such information should be taken seriously and not dismissed as a simple plea for attention.

To prevent a child from running away, the most important thing a parent can do is to show care and understanding. Confronted with the warning signs, parents should not wait; they should immediately show their concern and their desire for their child to remain home. And whenever possible, mental-health professionals recommend that the child receive some form of counseling.