Child Sexual Abuse: A Devastating Problem
An unfortunate truth that many of us try to avoid is the fact that a significant number of children in America will be sexually abused before they reach their teen years. The alarming rate of child sex abuse can be extremely difficult to address, and so we continue to see the devastation that perpetrators bring upon their victims.
The Rate of Child Sexual Abuse in America
Child sexual abuse is a serious problem that has an immensely devastating impact on children across the country. Although estimates surrounding child sexual abuse vary, data suggests:
- One in four girls have experienced sexual abuse at some point during their childhood
- One in thirteen boys have experienced sexual abuse at some point during their childhood
- Around 91% of child sexual abuse is committed by someone that the child or the child’s family knows
It is estimated that the total lifetime economic burdens of child sexual abuse in the United States is more than $9.3 billion.
The Consequences of Child Sexual Abuse
Children who are sexually abused often experience an array of negative consequences. The impacts of this adverse childhood experience (ACE) can be physical, mental, and emotional. Not only are the impacts immediate, but they can negatively impact a child well into their adult years.
Some of the physical health consequences that child victims endure include:
- Physical injuries
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Chronic heart disease, cancer, obesity, and other health conditions later in life
Some of the mental health consequences include:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression
Without counseling and other types of intervention, children often struggle with substance abuse, engage in risky sexual behaviors, and are at an increased risk for suicide and suicidal attempts in their teens and early adult years.
Regrettably, female victims of child sexual abuse are found to be at an increased risk of between two and thirteen percent of being victims of sexual assault during their adulthood. People who experience child sexual abuse are two times more likely to let others violate them later in life. Even though victims are forced to deal with these experiences by violent perpetrators, there are steps they can take to help cope with the trauma in order to move forward.
Our Law Firm Can Help You
Child sexual abuse is a devastating problem in Massachusetts as well as across the entire country. When children are forced to go through these traumatic experiences, they often struggle to move forward. Although perpetrators can be criminally charged, it does very little to help victims cope with what they were forced to endure. For this reason, victims of child sexual abuse can reach out to our lawyers to get justice and compensation they can use to move forward.
The Law Office of Carmen L. Durso is committed to creating a safe and comfortable environment for victims to explain what happened to them. Our lawyers will fight to help those harmed get justice and hold wrongdoers to account, regardless of whether they were criminally prosecuted. Contact our Massachusetts sexual abuse lawyers today by calling 617-728-9123 to see how we can help you.
