~What YOU Should Know~

1New Mexico received $2,266,234 in federal funding for unproven abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in Fiscal Year 2005.

1In 2005, 5% of female high school students and 12% of male high school students in New Mexico reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13.

1In 2005, 36% of female high school students and 30% of male high school students reported being currently sexually active.

1Typically, abstinence-only-until-marriage programs do not provide young people with even the most basic information about pregnancy and disease prevention methods other than abstinence.

1Abstinence-only-until-marriage programs ignore many of the young people who are most in need of information, education, and skills such as gay and lesbian youth, sexually abused teens, and pregnant and parenting teens.

1Comprehensive sex education INCLUDES the teaching of abstinence. Classes do not teach sexual techniques, nor do they encourage teens to have sex.

1Access to comprehensive, medically accurate information about sexual health is not only a major public health concern, it is recognized as a human right.

Statistical information comes from: Danice K. Eaton, et al., "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance-United States, 2005. For County information go to www.nmtpc.org