FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
CONTACT:
|
Bill
Barker |
|
Thursday,
June 6, 2002 |
|
(202) 419-3420 |
Teenage Birth
Rate Falls to Record Low
Experts
Say Drop Caused by Increased Abstinence and Proper Use of
Contraception Among Teens
WASHINGTON,
DC (June 6, 2002) HHS Secretary Tommy
G. Thompson today released a new report
detailing a decline in teenage birth
rates for the tenth straight year.
"Young
people deserve all the credit for the
drop in the birth rate," said
James Wagoner, President of Advocates
for Youth. "Research shows
75% of the recent decline in teen
births is due to increased use of
contraception
and 25% is due to delayed sexual
activity. Common sense tells us that
young people
need information about abstinence and contraception. It's
not either/or—young people need both," continued
Wagoner.
Citing the administration's support for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs
that censor information about contraception, Wagoner said, "We cannot
put the progress we are making in jeopardy. Congress has the opportunity in
the coming months to reverse course and fund pregnancy prevention programs
that the research shows really work. Every day in America, 2,400 teenagers
get pregnant. We can and must do a better job at prevention," concluded
Wagoner.
###
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.
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