In 2012, there were 29.4 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19. This is a total of 305,420 children born to females in this age group. 89% of these births occurred outside of marriage. The teen birth rate in 2012 shows a decline of 6 percent compared to 2011, when the birth rate was 31.3 per 1,000 girls. The teen birth rate has declined fairly steadily over the past 20 years. In 1991, the U.S. teen birth rate was 61.8 births per 1,000 teen girls, compared to 29.4 births per 1,000 women in 2012, which is pretty good. The teen birth rate in the United States is still higher than that of many other developed countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom. Even though the number of teenage pregnancies is decreasing, there are still many pregnant teenagers in today's society. Many teenagers who become pregnant unfortunately don't know much about the entire process. Obviously they know the act itself, but they don't know the damage that can result from it. They are not aware of the things that can protect them from the repercussions of their actions. One of the main reasons teens don't use birth control (if they know about it) is that they were using alcohol and/or drugs at the time. In a recent study of teen pregnancy, 1/3 of girls aged 14 to 21 studied said they got pregnant while drinking or drunk. 91% said they did not plan to have sex at that time. Teens who actively participate in these activities are unaware that what they are doing impacts more than just them. People who have children while they are still teenagers will not only affect their own lives, but will also affect the lives of the children involved... middle of paper... what can and most likely will happen. “If we as a nation want to break the cycle of poverty, crime, and a growing underclass of young people unequipped to be productive citizens, we must not only implement effective programs to prevent teen pregnancies, but we must also help those who have already given birth safely. that they become effective parents who nurture and bond.” (Jane Fonda) Knowledge is power, power to prevent this cycle from continuing its destructive path. Everyone will undoubtedly benefit from this prevention. Thanks to this our society as a whole will be better. It will be better in that teenagers will behave like teenagers. The children that are born will be born to older, wiser parents who are willing and able to provide for them. Society will no longer have to bear the burden of paying for those who cannot provide for themselves.