These are all government programs, paid for with government dollars. There are many more programs that rely not just on state funds, but also on donations and grants. Lost productivity Teen pregnancy's cost to taxpayers can't be measured completely with budgets and dollar signs. Also important is the economic loss the nation suffers when teen moms drop out of high school. Then there are the salaries for the broad spectrum of people who attack the teen pregnancy problem from different angles.
Police officers investigate statutory rapes.
Attorneys and paid court officials weigh visitation and custody rights issues. Countless social workers handle teen pregnancy cases. Prison cells that might otherwise be vacant are filled with the sons of teen mothers, who are 13 percent more likely to end up in prison, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy reports. The list goes on and on. Costs will rise Many of these costs, meanwhile, will climb in the future.