|
February 18, 2000
Letter to the Editor
Boston Globe
135 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3338
To the Editor:
Each year in the U.S. 750,000 teens become pregnant, close to four million
teens contract a sexually transmitted disease, and nearly half of all
new HIV infections occur in young people under the age of 25.
The issues surrounding these problems are complex and defy simplistic
solutions. But we know one thing without a doubt—young people
need information and education about sexuality and prevention.
That's why Focus on the Family's advertisement about abstinence-only-until-marriage
education in your February 14th issue concerns me. Their program
for young people censors information about contraception for the prevention
of pregnancy and disease.
This despite the fact that leading medical organizations like the American
Medical Association have stated that "little evidence is available
to support the effectiveness of abstinence-only approaches in delaying
the onset of intercourse among adolescents." In fact, more than
100 health and education organizations support comprehensive efforts
that educate young people about abstinence and contraception.
If we expect teens to behave responsibly we need to give them the tools
to do so. That way, we can help them postpone sexual involvement and protect
themselves when they do become sexually active. Ignorance, in the era
of AIDS, is nobody's ally.
Sincerely,
James Wagoner
President
Advocates for Youth
Note to Editors
and Producers: For more information or to set up an interview
with adolescent sexuality experts, please contact Bill Barker at
(202) 419-3420.
RETURN TO INDEX
OF PRESS RELEASES >>
|
Send this page to a friend