"Condom
Distribution to High School Students" The distribution of condoms to high school teens, ages 13 to 17 years of age
is a part of sex education that they may not receive at home. It promotes the practice of safe sex, if the teen is
sexually active, however if they are not, giving them a condom, and some pertinent self protecting information is going to send them out to engage in sexual activities, and it is absurd to think it will. It is just the con portion of the "pro''s and con''s" of this subject. According to collected data by (The Body/Sexsmart Survey1-2), when interviewing teens 98% of them reported that they never used any protection, such as condoms, or any other method, all of the time. There is such a misconception among teens as to what safe sex actually is. Also according to the same survey, the statistics of how many teens believed that the birth control pill is a form of prevention for HIV/AIDS, and STD''s was Unbelievable, the percentage was extremely high. This is a scary, specially to those of us with teens, teenagers in America will continue to have sex regardless if contraceptives are passed out in high school for free,(Scudder) and this should all be enough information to prove the point, that sex education, which includes the
distribution of condoms needs to be brought forth by any means possible. Most teens do not want to ask their parents for money for them.(RECAPP 1) However in the exact same survey, when teens were asked how they would feel if their partner suggested using a condom, almost 100% said they would be glad, and would feel respected,(page 1). This should tell us that teens want the knowledge, but may not ask for it. It is up to us as parents, and the adults to educate them in the safety of protected sex. It shouldn''t really matter where the information comes from that they receive, as long as they receive the message loud, and clear. Also according to (AAP News)1 by (Laurie Larson) students approve strongly of high school condom distribution, at the rate of 85% in one high school in Denver where 931 students voted. They also added that 88% wanted condoms to prevent AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, and 76% wanted them to prevent pregnancy,(The Body1). These rates are high, and we as adults need to recognize this, and assist in it''s aid. We don''t need anymore young people dieing from AIDS, because they believe that one time will not give it to them(Heidi Hunt), as once is all it takes. Nor do we need them believing that a pill can protect them from all that exists. It has also been shown in studies that the use of contraceptives have lowered the cases of ovarian cancer.(ETR 1) Parents need to quit closing their eye''s to the fact that their teen is the perfect child, who would not participate in any sexual acts. I myself was a very open minded parent, who told my children to come to me and I would get them the protection that they needed. I spoke openly, and in detailed facts about sex with my children, and guess what? I never learned about the actual time they were sexually active until way after the fact. So don''t believe that because you are open and easy to talk to they will always come to you, because sometimes it just doesn''t work that way. However, if there is someone, somewhere that they can go to and feel comfortable with, then that would be the answer, wouldn''t it? It would at least protect, educate, and help some the teens out there that do not have the resources to go to at home, or are far to embarrassed to go to anyone, but if someone came to them this might be a different story, and they just might open up, listen, and ask questions. Many youths are sexually experienced and need the knowledge, motivation, skills, and access to condoms and contraceptives to avoid sexually transmitted diseases. The distribution of condoms, and the informational education could save lifes in more way''s then one, it could prevent HIV, aids, pregnancieases that are out there for our young teens.(AMA 1) Students did take a large number of condoms from the schools when condoms were made available without any restrictions in open baskets in school health centers.(Public Health 1) Get on the crusade, and lets protect our kids!(M. Hunt)