Today, even teens that have access to birth control do not use it all the time. One reporter notes that a National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy study shows, "Nearly nine out of 10 teens say it's important to use birth control every time they have sex. [...]Yet the Child Trends data show that 31% of sexually experienced teens used no birth control at their most recent sexual intercourse" (Wetzstein, 2002, p. 3). Thus, the educational implications are strong. Birth control education is not a one-time aspect of education. This education should continue throughout middle- and high-school, and it should be reiterated that birth control must be used every time a couple engages in sex. Reporter Wetzstein continues, "Teens - especially boys - need to hear that contraceptives have to be used every time they have sex to avoid pregnancy" (Wetzstein, 2002, p. 3). Therefore, birth control education can be quite successful in helping teens choose birth control methods but it must be a continual, rather than a one-time process in education.
There are many conservative opponents to birth control and birth control being taught in the schools, including President George W. Bush. Opponents feel birth control, and they include abortion, simply condones premarital sex and sex among America's young people. They feel a more viable solution is to teach abstinence to young people. Some reports indicate that abstinence may be working in some cases, and that is why teen birth rates have fallen lately in the country (Wetzstein, 2002, p. 3). However, abstinence is simply not a viable option for all young people, and they should...
In addition, many state lawmakers have attempted, and are still attempting, to pass their own versions of the "Birth Control Protection Act" that would limit abortions and give pharmacists more rights in withholding birth control prescriptions if they do not believe in birth control. Another study indicates that 63% of evangelical Christians "believe birth control is immoral" (McCarthy, 2001, p. 19), and so, birth control and birth control education face stiff opposition from millions of Americans.
In
conclusion, birth control, especially among America's young people is a highly controversial subject. However, it is clear that unwanted and teenage pregnancies are also an important issue facing the nation. It is costly both physically and mentally to the young mothers, and it is costly to the American people. Young mothers face
poverty, difficulties raising their children, and difficulties in creating better lives for themselves and their families. Education is an answer, while abstinence only works in some cases. Not giving the nation's
children all the tools they can use to make their own decisions really costs everyone in the end. Combating this by more birth control education and use by young people simply makes sense.
References
Author not Available. (2003). Teen Pregnancy Facts. Retrieved from the Gift of Life Foundation Web site: http://golfound.com/teen_pregnancy.htm7 July 2005.
McCarthy, S.J. (2001, Fall). Faith-based murders? Free Inquiry, 21, 19.
Wetzstein, C. (2000,…
