Adolescents and risk : making sense of adolescent psychology / Patrick B. Johnson and Micheline S. Malow-Iroff.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"Substance abuse, gambling, sexual promiscuity, violence, mental health problems, suicide: all are risky and dangerous consequences of adolescent instability. Through the implementation of psychological research and basic theories, Johnson and Malow-Iroff assess each specific risk behavior as it correlates with demographics, socioeconomic statuses, and cultural factors surrounding today's youth. In addition, this book provides resources for handling harmful situations facing adolescents, offering practical and straightforward methods to aid one in negotiating positive paths for those in distress. Parents, educators, and adolescents alike will all benefit from knowing the causes of adolescent risk-taking and the ways of preventing such behavior. The authors explain the causes of the risky behavior and ways to prevent it, and offer advice that will be useful to parents and educators in addressing these issues."--BOOK JACKET.