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Teen pregnancy costs taxpayers billions

By Staff Writer

According to the most recent data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 400,000 teens get pregnant in the U.S. every year. Having a child at such a young age can cause girls to drop out of school, deal with a high level of stress and have low incomes throughout their lives. However, according to an updated analysis by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, youth childbirth also causes a strain on tax payers.

The report shows that in 2008, American taxpayers spent at least $10.9 billion dollars due to teen pregnancy. On a state level, costs ranged from $16 million in North Dakota to $1.2 billion in Texas. Campaign officials report that these costs are associated with the many negative consequences teen mothers tend to face, such as welfare, incarceration and public healthcare.

In this way, officials from the campaign said that reducing teen pregnancy not only improves the lives of teen mothers; it can also reduce strain on taxpayers.

Parents who are concerned that their children may become pregnant may want to research the option of enrolling them in therapeutic schools.

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