Traumatized Boys

“WHEN SEXUALLY abused boys are not treated, society must later deal with the resulting problems, including crime, suicide, drug use and more sexual abuse, said the study’s author, Dr. William C. Holmes of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.” [snip] “The earlier studies found that one-third of juvenile delinquents, 40 percent of sexual offenders and 76 percent of serial rapists report they were sexually abused as youngsters.” [snip] “The suicide rate among sexually abused boys was 1% to 14 times higher, and reports of multiple substance abuse among sixth-grade boys who were molested was 12 to 40 times greater.”

• 34% of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by juveniles. ln fact, 7% of sexual abuse is perpetrated by youth under the age of 12 (Snyder, 2000).
• The younger the child victim, the more likely it is that the perpetrator is a juvenile. Juveniles are the offenders in 43% of assaults on children under age 6 14% of these offenders are under the age of 12 (Snyder, 2000).

FACT: Adult survivors of child sexual abuse are more likely to become involved in crime, both as a perpetrator and as a victim. This is likely a product of a higher risk for substance abuse problems and associated lifestyle factors.

• Adult survivors were more than twice as likely to be arrested for a property offense (9.3% versus 4.4%), (Siegel and Williams, 2003).
• As adults, child sexual abuse victims were almost twice as likely to be arrested for a violent offense (20.4% versus 10.7%), (Siegel & Williams, 2003).
• Males who have been sexually abused are more likely to violently victimize others (Walrath, et. al., 2003).

Research has given us new insight into how the brain responds to reward pathway stimulation.
It is anticipated that direct illegal acts between adults and youth will increase as the “dopamine high” of online fantasy diminishes for adults, and the early sexualization of children and adolescents increases. The perpetration of child sexual abuse will no longer be limited to pedophiles or hebephiles, but will include those sexually indiscriminate internet pornography/ cybersex users who have slid down a slippery slope into dangerous territory while seeking a novel high.

We also have learned that the brain has the capacity to heal from past trauma.
BREAK AWAY will raise awareness of these new findings and create safe communities for individuals and groups seeking help. We can no longer portray sexual abusers as intractable monsters who, along with their loved ones are treated like modern day lepers. iOppose will lead the movement to BREAK AWAY from the stigma, to recognize our social responsibility to be “my brothers keeper.”

Economic Impact
As a tax-payer you’ll be shocked to find out. In the U.S. reported cases of child sexual abuse represent the second most expensive victim crime behind murder, costing the U.S. $35 Billion annually.

In Erie and Niagara Counties:

Immediate Economic Impact: $12,251,935.97
Long Term Economic Impact: $126,194,940.49

Challenge Survivor/ Offender Dichotomy
In order for preventative strategies to be effective we must access the root causes.
There are many issues that contribute to child sexual abuse, but for this campaign we want to focus on the perpetrator. It is reported that 40% of sex offenders and 76% of all serial rapists were sexually abused as a child. We can no longer turn a blind eye to these statistics. There is an obvious need to intervene early with individuals who are survivors and may be struggling sexually as a consequence of past traumas.

Social Change/ Adult and Community Responsibility;
Social change is necessary to decrease the stigma surrounding those with sexually deviant urges and behaviors, who now wrestle with their struggles in private and are ashamed to seek support. We have to raise awareness about what healthy sexuality is and promote positive social norms for our youth and future generations. We must get survivors of sexual abuse, sexual addiction, and past trauma to come together as proof that we can fix this problem and create change.

The BREAK AWAY Coalition
Included with the adult and community responsibility, will build a constituency of qualified practitioners, survivors, and those in power to join and push this movement. This group of people will be titled the Break Away Campaign Coalition.

• We must have qualified psychologists, social workers, and other mental health and addictions counselors willing to give the treatment.
• We must have economists pointing out the economic impact of child sexual abuse to those making the policies.
• We must have adult survivors of sexual abuse pointing out that you can seek help and heal
• We must have those who have overcome at-risks behaviors, step up and show that you can be healed and do not need to act on your impulses.