The first day of high school, going to the prom, learning to drive, graduating, getting a job and buying the first car : here are some of the memorable events. that occur in the life of an average American teenager. However, more than ever, another event has been added to the list of many adolescents: becoming a parent. Teenage pregnancy is not a new problem; in fact, it has been a growing concern in the United States for decades. Voluntary efforts have been made by organizations such as Healthy Teen Network, The National Campaign, and Advocates for Youth to help reduce the overwhelming number of teen pregnancies. Through health care clinics, teen parenting programs, and alternative schools for pregnant women, pregnancy organizations have sought to alleviate the problem, but have done little to eliminate it. It is time to make a change that will solve this problem boldly and with certainty. I'm proposing a new solution to teen pregnancy, one this country has never heard before. Studies have shown that the United States has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the developed world. In 2006, the National Institutes of Health reported that teen pregnancy rates increased for the first time in 15 years (“Overview”). Since then, rates have continued to increase. According to a study conducted by The National Campaign, one-third (or one in three) of girls in the United States become pregnant at least once before the age of 20 (“National Data”). This statistic would imply that more than 750,000 teenagers in the United States become pregnant each year (“Teen Pregnancy”). Given these statistics, it is important to ask: “What explains the increasing number of teen pregnancies in the United States?” This may be due to the lack...... middle of paper...... channel." Your Women's Health Community - Women's Health Channel. Ed. Stanley J. Swierzewski. HealthCommunties.com , Inc., December 4, 2007. Web July 26, 2010. Sutta, David. “Study: Teen Pregnancy Becomes More Acceptable” CBS 4 – Source for breaking news, weather and sports. of South Florida - Cbs4.com, June 2, 2010. .July 26, 2010. "Teen Pregnancy Statistics Help for Pregnant Teens - Teen Pregnancy Statistics, Prevention and Facts, 2005. Web." , August 1, 2010. "Teen Pregnancy Fact Sheets - March 2010. The March of DimesFoundation, November 2009. Web July 26.". 2010..