2008 Woodie Awards
Teaching abstinence doesn't go all the way
by Lauren DeZinno
Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: News
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Patrick Malone, a spokesman for the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, said the abstinence programs that were studied are funded by the U.S. government under Title V.
"What we're seeing is that 49 percent of the students who are in the programs have remained abstinent," Malone said. "At the same time, 49 percent of the students in the control groups have remained abstinent. This really leads us to believe that these programs, which are designed to teach abstinence, are completely ineffective."
Title V, which provides $50 million of federal money per year to states for abstinence programs, is set to expire this summer, he said.
"Unless Congress takes action, that funding source will dry up," Malone said. "We are encouraging Congress to let it expire because it's really a waste of time to keep funding these programs that really don't work."
It is up to the state whether to accept the funding, as they have to match every $4 of federal money with $3 of their own, he said.
If Congress chooses to renew the funding for abstinence-only programs this summer, the Sexuality Information and Education Council would continue to promote the teaching of comprehensive sexual education to young people, Malone said.
"Comprehensive sexual education includes talking about abstinence," he said. "It is the right choice for many young people and the only way to prevent STDs. The worst thing is when people are kept in the dark about ways they can protect themselves."
Julie Wilgen, individual and family studies professor, said comprehensive sex education is the most beneficial to young people.
"When they have compared students who take comprehensive sex education, it shows they will use birth control effectively and more frequently than students who have just as much sexual activity but tend not to protect themselves," Wilgen said.
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