When students are asked in health class if cuddling naked, watching porn, showering together and mutual masturbation are activities reflecting abstinent behavior, logically some conclude they are.  They are left to make this conclusion without fully understanding the risk of sexually transmitted disease and the behavioral path these activities put them on that leads to continuing sexual activity.

This is not a hypothetical situation.  It is happening in over 50 schools with the Teen Pep program, funded through NJ Department of Health.  This occurs at the same time that Governor Corzine has rejected Title V money from the federal government.  Free federal funding that amounts to more than 8 million dollars over 5 years, in youth programs to empower 10-14 year olds with the reasoning and skills to avoid these intimate sexual behaviors.  Are parents concerned?  Some are so concerned that they have organized and developed a website documenting their alarm (www.purepioneers.org).

NJ’s fiscal woes are so severe, it seems exceedingly strange the governor would reject funds -   but he did.  From 1998-2007, NJ received these funds supporting nine urban programs.  The results were significant.  From 1998-2004 (most recent data), NJ shared in the national trend of decreased teen births, BUT the reduction in births to those 10-19 was 88% greater in the three largest cities with abstinence education resulting in an estimated 1,100 fewer births from 2000-2004 (Title V ended 6/30/07 in NJ). Why should we care about that – apart from the personal and human dimensions?  That decline translates to a projected savings of more than $30 million in federal, state and local expenditures for public health care, child welfare, incarceration and lost tax revenue over a 14 year period.

Ten to fourteen year olds were taught future orientation, healthy relationships, pregnancy/fetal development, the emotional impact of teen sexual activity, the role of alcohol/drug use on sexual decisions, to establish limits, communicate boundaries and strategies on how to wait.  This health message offered sexually active teens the option and the encouragement to remove themselves from risky behavior. Abstinence education does not replace condom education; it is an adjunct to it, making an educational message truly comprehensive.

Montclair University’s evaluation concluded these programs increased the number of adolescents who “make the positive choice to postpone sexual intercourse,” with increased likelihood that “teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and early onset of sexual behaviors will be diminished as a result of Title V Abstinence Programs.” 

Through all of this success, there was a concerted effort circulating inaccuracies about abstinence programs.  Including abstinence education does not comply with NJ teaching standards, especially as it relates to the benefits of marriage and would preclude schools from teaching birth control. 

All untrue. State educational standards specifically mention marriage as a positive value to be discussed and they require teaching the skills needed to choose an abstinent lifestyle. Furthermore, nothing prohibits a school from teaching birth control preceding or following an abstinence program.

This manufactured confusion stimulated the formation of an ad hoc group, NJ Wise 2 Wait Coalition (info@njphysicians.org), consisting of health organizations and program providers (mostly from urban areas). They met with the Governor’s office, the Commissioners of Health and Education and were told that a focus on marriage as the healthiest venue for sexual activity was something that the Governor would not permit.  This strange declaration flies in the face of a mountain of social science research that proves the long-term benefits to individuals and society, of healthy marriage and the healthy families and communities it creates.

Another complaint was programs should be monitored by the state for medical accuracy.  If the state is interested in students receiving accurate information, let them look into their own health department programs, i.e. Be Proud, Be Responsible, teaches students to “satisfy each other without having sex,”(no mention of STDs).  More than one lesson promotes nonoxynol-9 as a lubricant/spermicide which the FDA has, since 2003, warned does not protect against STDs or HIV but actually causes irritation, heightening HIV and STD risk.  Actual failure rates for condom use are not given as required by law.

Why aren’t we teaching scientific facts?  Why aren’t they hearing the documented social science on the benefits of healthy family formation?  Why are federal dollars rejected that would serve our urban children?   Both abstinence and increased birth control have been the major contributors to the drop in teen pregnancies, how would NJ students benefit by the removal of one of these protective elements? 

It is time to speak up and insist that NJ accept Title V funding.  If the state doesn’t want to handle these dollars, it can allow another entity within the state to receive and oversee this much-needed funding -- for the sake of our children’s health and their futures. 

Peggy Cowan
President
NJ Physicians Advisory Group