Prevent Young Adults from Unplanned Pregnancies and STDS

Pregnancies and STD rates among young adults are on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP). Why is this happening? Although the issue is complex, it is clear that many teenagers are getting information about sex from the Internet and from other teens–which can often be incomplete, misleading, or inaccurate.

The U.S. already has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the westernized world. And a cutback in community resources for youth throughout the Bush Administration years has not helped matters. “Abstinence-only” programs mislead and misinform teens, creating ignorance and a lack of trust. Teens can only make educated decisions if we provide them with the appropriate knowledge.

What do you think? Are abstinence-only programs effective? Is the rise in STD rates and unplanned pregnancies due to the lack of comprehensive sex-education?

If you feel youth need to learn more than just abstinence, sign the petition in support of the REAL Act. The REAL Act aims to prevent pregnancy and the spread of STDs, by providing responsible sex education that teaches young people about both abstinence and contraception.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jayne B.

4:27PM PST on Feb 12, 2012

These are both very disappointing and very sad new statistics about our young adults. I'm going to look into signing the support for birth control.

send a green star

paula e.

2:24AM PST on Feb 12, 2012

Not suprised. In the school district where I live they have not taught sex-ed since the early 1970's.

Marie W.

8:24PM PST on Dec 16, 2011

Sex selling everything and abstinence-only programs- what a no win combination!

Mary W.

7:58PM PDT on May 24, 2011

Yes. STDs are on the rise as you can see members of STD dating sites like PozGroup.com are on the rise too.

Fareena N.

5:57AM PST on Mar 7, 2011

Thanks you. We can never stop what children learn about sex in today's society but we can help on how important it is to know what we are getting into

chris b.

12:47AM PST on Mar 5, 2011

Sarah the answer to your question is simple:" Abstinence programs are blinded to reality"

KS G.

12:30AM PST on Mar 5, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Melissah C.

11:25PM PST on Mar 1, 2011

thanks

Sarah D.

12:25AM PST on Jan 2, 2011

"Nobody wants to be a virgin anymore and will do mostly anything not to be left behind so whenever I hear the public pointing fingers at schools abstinence programs , it seems like they are blinded to the nature of hormonal teenager."

And what are the abstinence programs blinded to?

jane d.

7:09PM PST on Dec 31, 2010

I dont know what are these abstinence only programs you people keep talking about when me and most of my friends from others schools (in the US) received proper sex education . The body, sex, protection, condoms pregnancy and all that jazz was not a strange subject in the curriculum. If anything I would dare to say that it has nothing to do with school ,most teens dont even care and are easily persuaded by what peer pressure, tv , ridiculous sexual aggressive music is getting inside their heads no matter how well educated one may be. Nobody wants to be a virgin anymore and will do mostly anything not to be left behind so whenever I hear the public pointing fingers at schools abstinence programs , it seems like they are blinded to the nature of hormonal teenager. DONT TELL ME THEY WALK INTO A WALGREENS AND SEE THOSE SQUARED PACKAGES HANGING OFF SHELVES NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY ARE FOR. THEY ARE EDUCATIVE SITES JUST FOR TEENAGERS WITH GREAT ACCURATE INFO BUT ITS IN THEM TO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY , AFTER ALL IF THEY ARE HAVING SEX , THEY SHOULD ACT LIKE ADULTS AND DONT BLAME OTHERS FOR THEIR MISTAKES.