NAEA says abstinence education is working

WASHINGTON, DC — The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) has announced that abstinence education is delaying sex among teens based on data they say is contained in an analysis conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“These positive findings should be incorporated in any policy designed to reduce teen sexual activity in our nation,” said Valerie Huber, executive director of NAEA. “This is a time to assess what is working and capitalize on solutions that make a difference in the lives of youth.”

The positive results came from 10 different studies by six different authors. Two members of the panel of consultants for the analysis reported that the abstinence education programs in the study produced a statistically significant reduction in teen sexual activity for periods averaging about one year.

The policy implications for these findings argue for a continuation of abstinence education funding and raise questions about the advisability of ending such programs. Congress and the Administration have zeroed out funding for abstinence education in their 2010 budget.

“The NAEA sincerely hopes that policymakers will be persuaded by scientific evidence. We need to reach teens,” said Huber. “We need to find strategies that work, rather than fanning the flames of an ideological war over sex education. This research tells us that abstinence programs are helping teens delay sex.”

For more information, visit http://www.abstinenceassociation.org.