This is an interesting topic indeed. My teen daughter is pregnant but in no way is she from a low income family nor does she have an absentee father. But, she has been a runaway since the age of 13. Why? We don't know.
There is also the factor of abuse is some form that might turn a teenager to do drugs or have sex. I had a friend growing up (one of my best friends) that turned to sex and drugs at around the age of 13-14. She was molested by her babysitter as a young child so this is how she dealt with it. I was molested as well as a child by a babysitter but chose to go the other route, no drugs, no sex.
I think the drugs and sex thing comes from peer pressure. I remember being a teenager and remember all too well the pressure of being "cool". I had friends from all groups and was my own person. If the child is a leader, then they will be safe from doing drugs or having sex if that's what they choose. But a follower that wants to fit in will fall right into that peer pressure and do all the wrong things.
That's where my daughter fell in. She went from a leader up until the eighth grade and turned follower. Why? she wanted to fit in and got tired of being the bullies target (a couple girls in her class for years tormented her). She decided that joining them would be to her benifit. Look where it got her today. Pregnant at 16 with no education.
I don't really pay too much attention to statistics because I personally don't find that they really do prove their point (IMHO). There are so many circumstances and reasons why a child will do the things they do that you can't possibly pin it on low income or absent parent, etc... Sometimes, it's just the kid him/herself.
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