I understand your post and that you are stating that no matter where you are in the World, parents have the duty of care until the age of 18 to look after, nuture, educate and support theiir child into adulthood. However, you are from London quoting on United States reports. It would have been better to quote UK stats of the problems on drink, drugs and sexual activity.
Another thing you should have mentioned is the amount of teenagers using webcams and their mobile phones and using them to record their sex acts and posting them on youtube or other websites. This practice is not just in the US or the UK but WORLD WIDE!!!
In the United States, “teenagers who reported that at least half of their friends were sexually active were 31 times likelier to get drunk, 5 1/2 times likelier to smoke and 22 1/2 times likelier to have tried marijuana,” reports The New York Times. The survey, conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, involved 500 parents and 1,000 youths between 12 and 17 years of age. Joseph A. Califano, Jr., the chairman and president of the center, said: “There is a clear message for parents of 12- to 17-year olds: make sure you are aware of the dating practices of your child and get to know your child’s friends.” He added: “Parents who open up dinner conversation to topics such as dating and substance use are likelier to help their kids grow up drug free.”