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Should teenagers be given free condoms?

Should teenagers be given free condoms?

  • Of course! They need to have sex safely

    Votes: 47 50.5%

  • No, it only encourages them

    Votes: 23 24.7%

  • Other(Please elaborate)

    Votes: 23 24.7%
  • Total voters
    93
Hard Truth said:
In case anyone's opinion is influenced by the facts:

* A comparison of public high schools in New York City and Chicago found positive effects of condom availability programs. With the same sexual activity among senior high students in both cities (NYC, 59.7 percent; Chicago, 60.1 percent), sexually active students in New York, where there is a condom availability program, were more likely to report using a condom at last intercourse than were those in Chicago, where condoms are not available in school (60.8 to 55.5 percent).1
* In a two-year study of Philadelphia health resource centers (HRCs) that make condoms available, the percent of students using condoms at last intercourse increased from 52 to 58 percent. In schools with high HRC use, the number of students ever having intercourse dropped from 75 to 66 percent, while condom use at last intercourse rose from 37 to 50 percent.2
* By comparison, in schools reporting lower HRC use, the percentage of sexually active teens decreased from 61 to 56 percent, while condom use a last intercourse rose from 57 to 61 percent. Non-program schools showed an increase in sexual activity among teens, while condom use increased from 62 to 65 percent.2

Condom Availability Programs Do Not Promote Sexual Activity.

* A study of New York City's school condom availability program found a significant increase in condom use among sexually active students but no increase in sexual activity.1
* A World Health Organization review of studies on sexuality education found that access to counseling and contraceptive services did not encourage earlier or increased sexual activity.3
* In Europe and Canada where comprehensive sexuality education and convenient, confidential access to condoms are more common, the rates of adolescent sexual intercourse are no higher than in the United States.4

References

1. Guttmacher S, Lieberman L, Ward D, et al. Condom availability in New York City public high schools: relationships to condom use and sexual behavior. Am J Public Health 1997; 87:1427- 1433.
2. Furstenberg FF, Geitz LM, Teitler JO, et al. Does condom availability make a difference? An evaluation of Philadelphia's health resource centers. Fam Plann Perspect 1997; 29:123-127.
3. Baldo M, Aggleton P, Slutkin G. Poster presentation to the Ninth International Conference on AIDS, Berlin, 6-10 June 1993. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 1993.
4. American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Adolescence. Condom availability for youth. Pediatrics 1995; 95:281-285.

School Condom Availability
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My argument isn't with whether it will condone sexual behavior or not.


Adults have to pay for them.... in stores away from our places of work.

High School Teenagers should pay for them..... in stores..... away from the school.

Period. Enough pandering to teenagers and treating them special.

They get adequate education.... they are responsible enough to make this decision on their own regardless of the little to no effect of more and more spending to supplement them.
 
After giving it some thought, I think that there should be more intensive sex education in health class curriculum regarding the use of condoms, birth control, etc. I think that would be better than the taxpayers footing the bill for condoms which the kids may or may not use. Like others have said, they know and for a few dollars they should be able to purchase their own condoms if they want to have sex, or ask their parents or another person they trust. It's too bad that they wouldn't go to their parents. That would give parents another really perfect opportunity to talk to their kids.
 
ChrisL said:
After giving it some thought, I think that there should be more intensive sex education in health class curriculum regarding the use of condoms, birth control, etc. I think that would be better than the taxpayers footing the bill for condoms which the kids may or may not use. Like others have said, they know and for a few dollars they should be able to purchase their own condoms if they want to have sex, or ask their parents or another person they trust. It's too bad that they wouldn't go to their parents. That would give parents another really perfect opportunity to talk to their kids.
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There is adequate sex education in school.
 
Caine said:
There is adequate sex education in school.
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How on EARTH would you know this? Do you know the sexual education curriculum for every school district in America? I think not. :roll:
 
I support some sex education classes. It should be mandatory for people of specific races and socioeconomic background.
 
John Liberty said:
Should teenagers be given free condoms?
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Should they? I generally think no. Less because it "encourages them but more that it tends to send a message that Condoms alone makes sex "safe".

That said, if a private entity wants to provide free condoms to teenagers or if states decide, according with what their constitutions allow, that they wish to provide funds for such then they absolutely should be able to.
 
Caine said:
My argument isn't with whether it will condone sexual behavior or not.


Adults have to pay for them.... in stores away from our places of work.

High School Teenagers should pay for them..... in stores..... away from the school.

Period. Enough pandering to teenagers and treating them special.

They get adequate education.... they are responsible enough to make this decision on their own regardless of the little to no effect of more and more spending to supplement them.
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Not all adults. Some adults get them for free, from their places of work. Such as military members. And generally those that are able to get them for free are those workplaces that, like schools, want to limit unplanned pregnancies and spreading of STDs.

Now, maybe provide them at a small fee based on how much is paid for the condoms, but being at school is the thing that is most effective here, even if it is a small cost to the students when they get them.
 
davidtaylorjr said:
Because they don't have to, we give them free passes....
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No, a lot of it has to do with the stage of development they are in at the moment. Most teenagers are known to be risk takers, to have little or no fear, and to think that bad things cannot happen to them. It's all a combination of hormones and a brain that is still maturing. This is just one reason why military recruiters go after kids fresh out of high school, as young as they get them. It's also a reason why they are so easily taken advantage of. Just some food for thought for you, so you don't go around thinking of them as miniature adults, because they are not miniature adults.
 
ChrisL said:
No, a lot of it has to do with the stage of development they are in at the moment. Most teenagers are known to be risk takers, to have little or no fear, and to think that bad things cannot happen to them. It's all a combination of hormones and a brain that is still maturing. This is just one reason why military recruiters go after kids fresh out of high school, as young as they get them. It's also a reason why they are so easily taken advantage of. Just some food for thought for you, so you don't go around thinking of them as miniature adults, because they are not miniature adults.
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True, Chris...and kids are known the down a few brews, toke a joint or two, hit a little X, all of which might cloud one's sexual judgment on top of their immaturity and limited wisdom.
 
ChrisL said:
The problem is that they do NOT think about the consequences.
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Most people don't think of the consequences of their actions.
 
Henrin said:
Most people don't think of the consequences of their actions.
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I sure do and every other adult who is mature and has their **** together does. Maybe you're still young, I don't know.
 
ChrisL said:
No, a lot of it has to do with the stage of development they are in at the moment. Most teenagers are known to be risk takers, to have little or no fear, and to think that bad things cannot happen to them. It's all a combination of hormones and a brain that is still maturing. This is just one reason why military recruiters go after kids fresh out of high school, as young as they get them. It's also a reason why they are so easily taken advantage of. Just some food for thought for you, so you don't go around thinking of them as miniature adults, because they are not miniature adults.
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That is the culture we created for them.
 
Congressional reports make it fairly certain that places without sex ed have higher rates of teen pregnancy. This goes hand-in-hand with free condoms/birth control reducing the teen pregnancy rates. Teens are idiots, period. I know from personal experience and have the scars to prove it. If you give them a condom, they'll find a "message" in that act, that it's ok to have sex. If you gave them a brick, they'll find a "message" in that act, that's it's ok to have sex. If you interact with a teen in any way, they'll find a way to make it an approval of sex in their mind, whether conscious or subconscious. Teens are idiots. So, I rather give them the protection from their actions instead of just hoping they'll never think about sex. If I thought giving teens bricks would stop teen pregnancy, I'd be rooting for a free brick handout. Whether this is government sponsored or not is besides the point, it's been proved to decrease government spending. Also, most condom handouts are privately funded.
 
davidtaylorjr said:
You do understand that the culture and the way you are raised directly impacts all of that correct?
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LOL! No it doesn't. Culture has nothing to do with brain structure and development.
 
ChrisL said:
LOL! No it doesn't. Culture has nothing to do with brain structure and development.
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Let me put it in a term you might agree with. Assuming you believe in evolution. Environment has a direct impact on that. They did not have problems with teens in previous decades that you do now.
 
davidtaylorjr said:
Let me put it in a term you might agree with. Assuming you believe in evolution. Environment has a direct impact on that. They did not have problems with teens in previous decades that you do now.
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What you are claiming is that the human brain is actually "devolving." But you would be more correct to say that you feel the "behavior" of people has changed. That really has nothing to do with how the brain develops structurally. The fact is that we understand more about the human brain than we ever have in the past.

I can agree that perhaps children are more immature than in past generations, but that is due to advances in technology and adults actually understanding that children are NOT miniature adults, and that the maturity process actually takes time more so than anything else. But that does not negate my claims that the brain structure in teens is different than that of adults and is not yet fully developed and also the hormones and different chemical changes that are occurring have a big effect on their behavior. These are all well-known scientific facts.
 
davidtaylorjr said:
Let me put it in a term you might agree with. Assuming you believe in evolution. Environment has a direct impact on that. They did not have problems with teens in previous decades that you do now.
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And you know this how?

Can you continue on with your comment,
they did not have problems with teens in previous decades that you do now.
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with some source of reliable information or knowledge that supports your claim?
 
ChrisL said:
What you are claiming is that the human brain is actually "devolving." But you would be more correct to say that you feel the "behavior" of people has changed. That really has nothing to do with how the brain develops structurally. The fact is that we understand more about the human brain than we ever have in the past.

I can agree that perhaps children are more immature than in past generations, but that is due to advances in technology and adults actually understanding that children are NOT miniature adults, and that the maturity process actually takes time more so than anything else. But that does not negate my claims that the brain structure in teens is different than that of adults and is not yet fully developed and also the hormones and different chemical changes that are occurring have a big effect on their behavior. These are all well-known scientific facts.
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So you admit that our culture is the problem.
 
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