Abstinence Only Sex Education Is A Failure
Here's an interesting tidbit courtesy of the folks over at hypervocal: "The United States has spent $1.5 billion dollars over the last 15 years for abstinence-only education, and it’s only resulted in an increase in teen pregnancy, and consequently, an increase in abortion rates." (1)
Why is it that the same morons who want to outlaw abortion also want to make it impossible for teens to be properly informed about contraception or to obtain contraceptives? I don't get it. Before anyone has a cow, let me say that I have no problem with those who find abortion repugnant but endorse sex education programs that properly teach our young how to avoid unwanted pregnancies.
Sadly, the health of teens in this country is not important. Recently the Obama administration over-ruled the scientists at the FDA (2) in their approval of the unrestricted over-the-counter access to the Morning-After Pill. Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, compared the Obama administration to that of former President George W. Bush, saying both are guilty of “playing politics with women’s health.”
In regard to over-ruling the FDA scientists, do any of my readers recall the following statement by President Obama:
The White House,
9 Mar 2009,
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIESThe public must be able to trust the science and scientific process informing public policy decisions. Political officials should not suppress or alter scientific or technological findings and conclusions.
So much for scientific integrity from this administration. And yes, the Bush Administration was just as barbaric on scientific issues. Politics has no place in health, sex, or our private lives altogether.
ENDNOTES
(1):
hypervocal, Wanna Cut Wasteful Spending? Let’s Start with Abstinence-Only Education
The last set of statistics available demonstrate a correlation between the rise in teen pregnancies and abortion rates with the increase in federal funds for abstinence-only education during the eight years of President George W. Bush.
“The issue here is clearly that we have a lot of teenagers who are having sex, but they aren’t careful enough at contraception to avoid pregnancy,” says Sarah Brown, executive director of the nonprofit National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.
... it’s a mistake to tell kids not to have sex and then take away their resources for dealing with unplanned pregnancies.
(2):
Bloomberg, Morning-After Pill Limit is First Time Ever U.S. Overrules FDA
A decision by U.S. regulators to approve unrestricted over-the-counter access to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.’s emergency contraceptive was overruled by the Obama administration, the first time in history for such a reversal.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius ordered Margaret Hamburg, the Food and Drug Administration chief, to reject the application by Petach Tikva, Israel-based Teva, citing potential sales to girls younger than age 17. Hamburg said she was ready yesterday to approve sales of Plan B One-Step without a prescription to women of all ages based on “science-based evidence.” The FDA said it was the first time HHS has overruled an agency approval.
