Can Today’s Youth Violence Be Traced To A Pill?

A revolution that transformed the American family may well have contributed to the erosion of parental discipline and the rise of youth violence.

James Zumwalt | October 10, 2026

Unbelievably, a California city initiated the ban. In 1956, Santa Cruz officials banned rock ’n’ roll music at public gatherings, fearing it might corrupt young people. The music was just getting started when officials argued it was “detrimental to both the health and morals of our youth and community.”

That would be followed in the 1980s by criticism over obscene lyrics in rock ’n’ roll music that were also believed to have a negative impact on the young. The Parents Music Resource Center—a group co-founded by Tipper Gore, the wife of then-Democratic Senator Al Gore —initiated action to require warning labels on albums containing such lyrics. Performers such as Frank Zappa protested her efforts and testified before Congress to oppose the proposed measures.

Needless to say, since then, such lyrics have only gotten worse. Whether they have contributed, over time, to the detriment of our youth is for experts to determine. However, there should be little doubt that, by backing away from social constraints and proper behavior, young minds have been affected, triggering a major transition over the decades.

Accordingly, America has witnessed a major and gradual shift from the generation of the Baby Boomers (1946–1964)—originally targeted by Santa Cruz officials—to the youngsters of Generation X (1965–1980), Millennials (1981–1996), Generation Z (1997–2012), Generation Alpha (2013–2024), and Generation Beta (2025–2039).

This shift has become most notable in recent years in the violent activities undertaken by young people. Between 2016 and 2022, homicide rates among them increased by 65%. Also, in 2022, gun assault deaths among children and adolescents reached a peak of 1,674. The past two decades have witnessed a 60% increase in youth suicides. As the........

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