Abstinence Assumptions
June 15th, 2008 -- Posted in American Politics | 2 Comments »My internet connection has been acting up recently and I have been unable to figure out what is the problem after analyzing the signal, I am receiving low signal when Windows says I have “Excellent” Signal. Any ideas? I received another email from MoveOn.org the other day detailing Planned Parenthood’s own version of the Bush-McCain Challenge:
It’s an excellent video but given Senator McCain’s “moderate” status, I was surprised that he supported continuing to fund Abstinence programs in America that do not work. There have been extensive studies done on the subject but let me add my own comments. It hasn’t been that long ago that I cannot remember High School but I would describe the changing sexuality of teenagers around the world as inevitable, I cannot imagine such changed reversing at any point regardless of any program. The best way as advocated by Planned Parenthood and many liberals is sex education while making the pill available over the counter at a reduced cost to teenagers. Many people object to this because they believe it helps to promote sexual promiscuity however given the current levels of such activity, it is better to be proactive as opposed to reactive.
Taking the bus into Dublin sometimes, I am often amazed at the language used by kids in the 14 - 18 bracket and cannot imagine myself using that kind of language without my mother informing me that I needed to find another location to live. Times are changing for the better or the worse but it’s no time to pursue antique ideals, instead, a progressive approach must be taken in dealing with the changing nature of how teenagers interact in the 21st century. The most comprehensive Abstinence research study I could find has been undertaken by Mathematic Policy Research Inc:
As with the four programs in this study, most Title V, Section 510 abstinence education programs have been implemented in upper elementary and middle schools. In addition, most Title V, Section 510 programs are completed before youth enter high school, when rates of sexual activity increase and many teens are either contemplating or having sex. Findings from this study provide no evidence that abstinence programs implemented in upper elementary and middle schools are effective at reducing the rate of teen sexual activity several years later.
I am not saying Abstinence programs are a terrible idea but funding for the program increased by $27.8 million dollars in this financial year. Given the overwhelming evidence that it does not work, why throw away all that money? Republican’s accuse the Democrats of spending without thinking but this amount of money defies scientific evidence to date. Abstinence programs should be funded equally in conjunction with sex education programs to better prepare young people for the twists that this side of life can bring. From an older 2002 report by the AIDS Research Institute:
The $102 million currently being spent by the federal government on abstinence-only programming is designed to serve social and political goals, rather than produce solid public health outcomes for young people. Not only is there no credible evidence that these millions of dollars have any positive effect, there is reason to be concerned that young people who receive abstinence - only curricula in school will not have the tools to protect themselves in sexual situations.
The key as mentioned in the above paragraph is that Abstinence and Sex Ed. programs are there to promote the health of young people today yet given the lack of any concrete evidence that abstinence has helped the youth today, is it not time for an alternative approach?
