This morning's Boston Globe comments on the recently released report on the causes of stress on the City's young people.

The report was prepared by Dr. Jack Shonkoff, a top researcher from Brandeis University in the area of "toxic stress." 

Toxic stress describes the influence of "adverse effects on a young
person's physical and mental health resulting from chronic exposure to
dangerous and doleful conditions, including exposure to violence and
maltreatment."
 
The doctors determined frequent activation of the body's system to
respond to stress can damage that part of a child's brain considered
essential for learning and memory.

The real-life impact of "toxic stress" on children is often seen
several years later when those very children are "tempted with drugs,
alcohol, and even magic tricks by pimps and molestors."

The kids are often the victim of sexual abuse as well physical or emotional abuse in the home or by friends of the family.

"With no protective adult at home, the children become easy prey.
Folgert wants to form a task force comprised of police, medical
experts, and street workers to find out how widespread the molestation
is."

The pimps or molestors use magic tricks to lure young people because it
as effective as drugs or alcohol.  The victims have suffered severe
emotional and physical damage from their prior exposure to abuse and
fall prey to those looking to befriend them. 

We must never forget the trust placed in magicians by parents and
children.  We are invited to entertain at parties and schools because
we are considered "safe" and worthy of the trust.  It is sobering,
then, to see our profession held up as one of the disciplines used to
inflict abuse and imprison young people in what usually becomes a
short, hellish life.

The Globe editorial suggests entire neighborhoods are "starting to
suffer from toxic stress."  The young people will regress to their most
basic survival instincts of flight or fight. 

You can read the full editorial here.

This morning's Boston Globe comments on the recently released report on the causes of stress on the City's young people.

The report was prepared by Dr. Jack Shonkoff, a top researcher from Brandeis University in the area of "toxic stress." 

Toxic stress describes the influence of "adverse effects on a young
person's physical and mental health resulting from chronic exposure to
dangerous and doleful conditions, including exposure to violence and
maltreatment."
 
The doctors determined frequent activation of the body's system to
respond to stress can damage that part of a child's brain considered
essential for learning and memory.

The real-life impact of "toxic stress" on children is often seen
several years later when those very children are "tempted with drugs,
alcohol, and even magic tricks by pimps and molestors."

The kids are often the victim of sexual abuse as well physical or emotional abuse in the home or by friends of the family.

"With no protective adult at home, the children become easy prey.
Folgert wants to form a task force comprised of police, medical
experts, and street workers to find out how widespread the molestation
is."

The pimps or molestors use magic tricks to lure young people because it
as effective as drugs or alcohol.  The victims have suffered severe
emotional and physical damage from their prior exposure to abuse and
fall prey to those looking to befriend them. 

We must never forget the trust placed in magicians by parents and
children.  We are invited to entertain at parties and schools because
we are considered "safe" and worthy of the trust.  It is sobering,
then, to see our profession held up as one of the disciplines used to
inflict abuse and imprison young people in what usually becomes a
short, hellish life.

The Globe editorial suggests entire neighborhoods are "starting to
suffer from toxic stress."  The young people will regress to their most
basic survival instincts of flight or fight. 

You can read the full editorial here.