Central issues for both parents and children revolve around control and privacy. Teens having attained their growth spurt and having attained sexual maturity believe them to be grown-ups and therefore are entitled to all of the prerogatives of an adult. Parents, on the other hand, while acknowledging the physical changes in their children are reluctant to cede total control and independence to their children. They do not believe that adolescents are yet psychologically prepared to make mature judgments required to navigate issues related to sexual relationships, drug use, driving, etc. Parents therefore insist on monitoring their teenagers' behavior and maintaining sufficient control to insure their children's health and safety.
Teens counter their parents monitoring by insisting increasingly on their privacy.
Often it is as simple as changing the rules about having access to an adolescent's room or letting a teen have a phone or computer of their own to communicate with friends. Such a hypothetical brings us full circle to the new technology testing kit. These are not just idle questions. The National Household Survey findings consistently reveal that alcohol is the most likely drug of abuse to be tried by teenagers. Moreover, the National Highway Transportation Administration reports that about 20 percent of traffic deaths among drivers less than 21 years of age involved alcohol.