In his patronizing dismissal
of abstinence programs, Saletan speaks of «mating» ¯ meaning sexual intimacy ¯ as an unstoppable force of nature.
Not exact matches
It may have to do with Addyi's high pricing (on par with Viagra at $ 26 per pill without an assistance
program), its daily intake requirement (unlike Viagra, it adds up to $ 780 per month), its potentially deleterious side effects (low blood pressure and fainting), its restrictions on alcohol consumption (
abstinence vs. large quantities not recommended for Viagra patients), a 10 % efficacy rate (whereas Viagra works 50 %
of the time compared to a placebo, according to a recent study), and its subtle neurotransmitter - targeting mechanism (contrast that to the obvious hydraulics
of Viagra).
Although family planning experts still scoff,
abstinence programs sponsored by private organizations and churches have successfully reached hundreds
of thousands
of teenagers, who are learning the reward
of postponing sex and avoiding pregnancy.
A thorough review
of the arguments for and against
abstinence programs in Uganda specifically is available on the Human Rights Watch website.
A summary
of the extensive Mathematica evaluation
of U.S.
abstinence and related
programs can be found at www.mathematica-mpr.com/welfare/
abstinence.asp.
While some
programs also encourage
abstinence or noncoital sex, most are concerned with teaching techniques for «safe sex»; offspring (and disease) are thus treated as (equally) avoidable side effects
of sexuality, whose true purpose is only individual pleasure.
But the purity movement doesn't want the dangers
of sex realistically discussed or it would be behind truly educational sex education rather than
abstinence only
programs.
Title XX — the «chastity» law — passed by Congress in 1981 provides funds to groups, including certain church groups, that support
programs of sexual
abstinence among youth.
An assessment
of the peer - reviewed, published research reveals no evidence that
abstinence only
programs delay se.xual initiation or reduce STIs or pregnancy.»
The cards were part
of a LifeWay
abstinence pledge
program begun in the early 1990s.
Back to those who would restrict sex education with the express purpose
of preventing sexual activity, Bioethicist Arthur Caplan made the following observations in regard «
abstinence only»
programs:
Ssempa, who is associated with Saddleback pastor Rick Warren and is a recipient
of U.S. funds to combat HIV / AIDS through «
abstinence only»
programs, has been linked to prior public vigilante campaigns against LGBT people.
Many
of these
programs, including 12 - step plans such as Alcoholics Anonymous, often embrace at least some aspects
of an
abstinence - only approach and reliance on a «higher power.»
The focus
of the research
programs in the Laboratory
of Clinical Psychopharmacology is the clinical evaluation
of potential medications for protracted
abstinence and relapse prevention in alcohol use disorder and related disorders such as nicotine and cannabis use disorders.
Since such
programs promote
abstinence only they tend to give only the disadvantages
of birth control, she says.
Thankfully, in the wake
of the overwhelming evidence that
abstinence - only
programs fail to keep anyone abstinent or safe, more states are now offering at least some real sexuality education.
The poll
of 1,961 people — conducted Dec. 8 - 14, 2005 — found that 58 percent
of all adults surveyed do not believe that
abstinence programs are effective in reducing HIV and AIDS.
Adults under age 30 are more likely than older adults to see the benefit
of abstinence - only sex education
programs, according to an online poll by the Harris Group.
The congressional watchdog agency, in a report dated Oct. 3 but released this month, surveyed 10 states that received the largest share
of funding from the
abstinence education grant
program.
It found that only five
of those states conduct their own reviews
of the curricula used by
abstinence education
programs.
Or Valerie Huber — a relentless advocate
of abstinence - only - until - marriage education
programs, despite their lack
of basis in fact?
Failed
abstinence - only
programs in states such as Texas and Mississippi are helping keep those states at the very top
of the teen birth rate list, other experts said.
We object to the continued funding
of fiscally irresponsible
abstinence - only
programs that have been proven ineffective, while ignoring calls for increased funding for the
programs that have been proven to work and help millions
of women across the country get access to basic health care, including affordable birth control.
Kirby DB, The impact
of abstinence and comprehensive sex and STD / HIV education
programs on adolescent sexual behavior, Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 2008, 5 (3): 18 — 27.
Abstinence - only
programs are fiscally irresponsible and have been proven to not delay sexual initiation or lower rates
of pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections.
For decades,
abstinence - only
programs have failed to meet the needs and uphold the rights
of young people.
Kirby DB, The impact
of abstinence and comprehensive sex and STD / HIV education
programs on adolescent sexual behavior, Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 2008, 5 (3): 18 — 27, doi: 10.1525 / srsp.2008.5.3.18.
With social conservatives now in control
of both the White House and Congress,
abstinence - only
programs are poised for a dramatic comeback and federal funding for these
programs is likely to see significant increases again.
Repeating the mistakes
of the past and pouring even more public resources into
abstinence - only
programs won't get us there.
Research shows that effective
abstinence - plus sex education
programs have led to a delay and decline in teen sexual activity and an increased use
of contraceptives by sexually active teens.
Also, rigorous research accumulated over the past 20 years has consistently shown that
abstinence - only
programs do not have an overall impact on young people's age
of first intercourse.
House Committee Denies Added Funds for
Abstinence - Only
Programs; Vote Shows Support for the Health and Safety
of America's Teens
The administration
of New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine cautioned that «accepting federal
abstinence - only dollars may, in fact, cost the state money because students may require additional sexuality education to clarify the partial and misinformation that is taught in
abstinence - only - until - marriage
programs.»
A nine - year, large - scale federally funded evaluation
of the Title V
program found no measurable impact on increasing
abstinence or delaying sexual initiation among participating youth.
The briefing was supported by members
of Congress from several states that have rejected funding for dangerous
abstinence - only
programs, including Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D - NJ) and Reps. Barbara Lee (D - CA), Chris Shays (R - CT), Tammy Baldwin (D - WI), Lois Capps (D - CA), Gabrielle Giffords (D - AZ), Raúl Grijalva (D - AZ), Jane Harman (D - CA), James Moran (D - VA), Louise Slaughter (D - NY), Betty Sutton (D - OH) and Henry Waxman (D - CA).
Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest network
of sex education providers, called on Congress to stop funding
abstinence - only
programs that do nothing to help teens prevent unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections.
The move is a gimmick aimed directly at countering states» rejection
of failed
abstinence - only
programs.
WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday Senate Appropriations Committee members showed they valued the health and safety
of America's teens by refusing to dramatically increase funding for
abstinence - only - until - marriage
programs.
«This new study makes it crystal clear that
abstinence - only sex education for teenagers does not work, and it should serve as a wake - up call to anyone who still believes that teenagers aren't sexually active or that
abstinence - only
programs curb the rate
of teen pregnancy.
Planned Parenthood
of Nassau County is committed to ensuring that real sex education is provided in New York's public schools, instead
of dangerous, misleading
abstinence - only
programs.
Today's news underscores what Planned Parenthood and those who work tirelessly to reduce the number
of unintended pregnancies already know too well: the United States is facing a teen pregnancy health care crisis, and the national policy
of abstinence - only
programs just isn't working.
Federal funding should be directed toward comprehensive sex education
programs that will keep teens healthy — by including information about
abstinence as well as contraception, healthy communication, responsible decision making, and prevention
of sexually transmitted infections.
«We applaud President Obama and members
of Congress who have recognized that
abstinence - only
programs do not work, and who are investing in medically accurate, age - appropriate sex education for our teenagers.
These changes mark an important step toward Planned Parenthood's goal
of eliminating federal funding
of dangerous
abstinence - only
programs and expanding access to comprehensive, medically accurate sex education.
«American families deserve education
programs that will keep their teens safe —
programs that include information about
abstinence as well as contraception, healthy communication, responsible decision making, and prevention
of sexually transmitted infections.»
In the wake
of that report, more than 25 major newspapers across the country echoed Planned Parenthood's call for an end to
abstinence - only
program funding and editorialized in favor
of comprehensive sex education.
«The report's findings clearly do not give adequate justification for the millions
of dollars spent on federal
abstinence - only - until - marriage
programs.»
This is positive news for America's teens, as federal funding should be directed toward comprehensive sex education
programs that will keep teens healthy — by including information about
abstinence as well as contraception, healthy communication, responsible decision making, and prevention
of sexually transmitted infections.
WASHINGTON — Ignoring the outsized need for family planning resources and turning a blind eye to the looming and near - immediate threat
of the Zika virus, a House subcommittee passed a bill that prohibits funding for the nation's only dedicated source
of federal funding for family planning services, eliminates the evidence - based Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Program, and proposes wasting millions in taxpayer dollars by funding ineffective
abstinence - only education.
Washington, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation
of America (PPFA) today criticized the Bush administration for misleading states about the certainty
of Title V
abstinence - only
program funding in a new grant extension announced last week.