Children Listen And Learn

Researchers have found that strategies known to help adolescents avoid risky behaviours like smoking, drinking, and drug use can also be effectively used in abstinence-based education programs.

Just one-third of the preteens who participated in an abstinence-only program had sexual intercourse within the next two years. Of those who only learned about out safe sex and contraceptives, 50% had intercourse in the same time period.

The US federal government has invested heavily in abstinence-only education in recent years.

President Obama has cut funding for abstinence-only programs in his 2010 budget.