NAEA Statement on CDC Update on Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Washington, DC (November 14, 2007) — The report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) illustrates the dire need for America to re-evaluate the message it is sending to teens about sex. The CDC reports that girls between the ages of 15 and 19 lead the nation in Chlamydia cases. In states where the majority of children receive comprehensive sex education, STD rates are the highest.
This information confirms the need for Congress to continue funding a risk-avoidance public health approach to educating teens about sex. Abstinence education is the only strategy that provides youth with the age-appropriate and medically accurate information to best protect teens from the physical and emotional risks of casual sex. Our youth deserve to hear a clear message. That message is most effectively communicated when teens are given relationship building tools, in addition to information about STDs and contraception, all within the context that abstinence is the healthiest choice.
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About NAEA:
The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) is comprised of leading abstinence educators and supporters who represent 1.5 million children across the U.S.
For more information: http://www.abstinenceassociation.org
To schedule an interview with NAEA Executive Director Valerie Huber, please contact Patra Stephan at 202-248-5420 or 202-246-3822.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patra Stephan, Communications Director,
202.248.5420/
202-246-3822