Nearly half a million teens in the United States give birth each year, and 3 million teens contract a sexually transmitted infection annually. The health costs to teens, their families and society are staggering.
Safer Sex: The New Morality is a book by Evelyn Lerman, author of Teen Moms: The Pain and the Promise. The author, a former teacher, discusses prevention strategies from other developed countries. She describes teens as caught between two worlds - the world of the "abstinence only"philosophy they hear at their churches, schools and youth organizations, and the world of free sex with no consequences as portrayed in the media.
Her book describes the dilemma between education and reality: A high teen birth rate, and the fact that Congress has apportioned a large amount of funding for abstinence-only education. (In order to use the money, schools must teach nothing about contraception and disease prevention other than the failure rates of condoms and other contraceptives.)
The book calls for a commonsense approach in attacking the problems related to teen sexuality.
The book, which costs $14.95, is available from Morning Glory Press, 6595 San Haroldo Way, Buena Park, CA 90620-3748; (714) 828-1998 or (888) 612-8254.
CTA does not endorse or recommend the products reviewed in this section unless so indicated.