New report: abstinence-only ed “ethically problematic”

The Society of Adolescent Medicine has just released a comprehensive report reviewing government-funded abstinence-only programs. And shockingly, it ain’t good.

James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, says, "The report reads like an indictment. Abstinence-only is bad science, bad policy, and a blatant violation of medical ethics and basic human rights. Enough is enough. The time has come for Congress to declare an immediate moratorium on federal funding for these programs."

Here are some highlights from the report, which is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health:

"We believe that current federal abstinence-only-until- marriage policy is ethically problematic, as it excludes accurate information about contraception, misinforms by overemphasizing or misstating the risks of contraception, and fails to require the use of scientifically accurate information while promoting approaches of questionable value."

"Abstinence-only programs threaten fundamental human rights to health, information, and life."