In 2013, a young girl from Coney Island, New York Attended Abraham Lincoln High School. She was 16 years old, and a junior: one year away from college, and she had big dreams. Unfortunately, like many teens she had unprotected sex and her ambitions were muddled with possible scenarios of pregnancy or STD’s. However, she knew she could help. She found herself in the nurse 's offices, which was tucked away in the school basement, in order to be given the popular contraceptive Plan B. The nurse then routinely checked her blood pressure and weight, and referred to a doctor to make the 16 year old girl was okay to take the pill. The girl had not returned the opt-out form given to her parents because she, like her peers, wanted to have sex (Hartocollis).
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In the United States, only 22 states (and the District of Columbia) mandate any form of sexual education; 20 of which require instruction on sexually transmitted diseases as well. All other states may or may not offer sexual education to their teens. Furthermore, a report conducted by the Guttmacher institute found 93% of teenagers received formal instruction on STI and HIV/AIDs and 84% were also taught abstinence. However, when it came to methods of contraception and having safe sexual intercourse, one-third of teens who had received a formal sexual education did not learn about any forms of contraception. In addition, only 32% of young adults go to their parents for sexual education and instead turn to their friends, whom most likely have just as much understanding as they do. Many teens also turn to the internet for sexual education or additional information they may or may not have been taught about in school, such as safe sex and methods of birth control. In a study conducted by the Journal of Adolescent Health, almost half of 177 popular sexual health websites contained inaccurate or false information about contraceptives. Most teenagers may have a basic understanding of sexual health, too many still lack a solid foundation of contraceptives and safe
In the United States, only 22 states (and the District of Columbia) mandate any form of sexual education; 20 of which require instruction on sexually transmitted diseases as well. All other states may or may not offer sexual education to their teens. Furthermore, a report conducted by the Guttmacher institute found 93% of teenagers received formal instruction on STI and HIV/AIDs and 84% were also taught abstinence. However, when it came to methods of contraception and having safe sexual intercourse, one-third of teens who had received a formal sexual education did not learn about any forms of contraception. In addition, only 32% of young adults go to their parents for sexual education and instead turn to their friends, whom most likely have just as much understanding as they do. Many teens also turn to the internet for sexual education or additional information they may or may not have been taught about in school, such as safe sex and methods of birth control. In a study conducted by the Journal of Adolescent Health, almost half of 177 popular sexual health websites contained inaccurate or false information about contraceptives. Most teenagers may have a basic understanding of sexual health, too many still lack a solid foundation of contraceptives and safe