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American Morning

Teens & Sex

Aired May 29, 2003 - 07:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A new study on teens and sex has renewed the debate about providing condoms to high school students. Does it lead to increased sexual activity? The latest study confirms earlier research, we're told, and says the availability of condoms does not make students more likely to have sex.
In a moment, both sides on this issue.

First, though, Dr. Sanjay Gupta back with us to talk about the details of this new survey.

What's in it?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, interesting, they actually did a large survey, a pretty large survey of just one state, Massachusetts. Findings, some of the findings, just as you mentioned. But let's take a look at exactly how they did this, first of all.

Over 4,100 students participated, again, a survey. So they were asked questions. All this data is from 1995, an important point, because it takes usually quite a while to actually analyze all this, eight years later now. That's when they're getting some of these numbers back. Twenty-one percent of the students had access to a condom availability program. That is a high number. That is reflective of Massachusetts. Around the country, it's more around eight to 10 percent.

And it's what is known as a moment in time study. Bill, what that means is they didn't give condoms to the school -- they didn't look at the school before they had condoms then give condoms and see how behavior changed. This is what they did. This is some of the results, some of the at least initial numbers.

Take a look at one of the study authors, what she had to say. As you already mentioned, "Condom availability was not associated with greater sexual activity among adolescents but was associated with greater condom use." Not greater sex, but greater condom use. That's from Susan Blake. Now, that's among students who are already sexually active.

And, finally, some of the surprising numbers out of survey, as well, half, half of adolescents between ninth and twelfth grade are having sex. Sixty percent of those sexually active students, again, in this survey, said that they used condoms recently, within the last three months.

Interestingly, as well, if you look at schools that do have condom availability programs and schools that do not, there's really no difference in pregnancy rates between those two schools, either.

So those are some of the initial data, at least, out of this particular survey.

HEMMER: Got it, Sanjay.

Thanks.

GUPTA: All right.

HEMMER: To the debate right now. Not everyone believes that making condoms available to high school students is a good idea. In Washington, Genevieve Wood with the Family Research Council, one of our guests today. And Elizabeth Toledo from Planned Parenthood live here in New York.

Good morning to both of you.

Thanks for your time.

GENEVIEVE WOOD, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: Good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: Genevieve, you just heard Sanjay lay out the principles for the study. What do you make of this?

WOOD: Well, I think the study, to a certain extent, is much ado about nothing. As the researchers themselves admit, they didn't look at what the students were doing prior to being in a school that actually handed out condoms, so we don't know if that actually affected behavior or not.

Bill, I'd make the case that even if it did, the fact is condoms don't protect teenagers or anybody else from a whole host of sexually transmitted diseases. And that's even if they're using them correctly. So the idea that we tell teenagers, hey, if you're going to have sex, just use a condom and you'll be protected, isn't telling them the truth.

What we ought to be doing is encouraging teens to be abstinent, not pass out condoms.

HEMMER: All right, I've got your argument.

Elizabeth, what's yours?

ELIZABETH TOLEDO, PLANNED PARENTHOOD: It's always in the best interests of our teens to give them age appropriate medically accurate sex education. You know, when -- some teens are going to be sexually active. They absolutely need the full range of options and full education about disease prevention and contraception prevention. Other teens are deciding whether or not to be sexually active. They also deserve the full range of information. When we trust teens with good information, when we give them full education, they're going to make the best decisions for themselves, for their long-term health and for their healthy relationships.

HEMMER: I understand your argument.

What about that, Genevieve? If they're going to have sex anyway, and if the study is right, 50 percent of kids between the grades of nine and twelve are already sexually active, why not give them the options they need?

Your case, what?

WOOD: Well, I think the case is this, that teens need to be sent a clear message. And the clear message is the only way that you're going to protect yourself from getting pregnant, the only way you're going to be sure that you don't get a sexually transmitted disease is if you aren't having sex in the first place. And a lot of studies will show you, Bill, even one from 1999, that teenagers say look, we want a clear message from society about this, from our parents, from our schools, from what we see coming out of Hollywood. We want to know what's the right thing to do.

And as it is right now, we're sending them a mixed message. We're saying the best thing to do is not have sex, but if you're going to, here's a condom. What we don't do is, as your other guest suggests, is give them all the information. All the information is if you're having sex and you're using condoms, you're not necessarily protected. And that's not a message that most teens know. Look, most teens will tell you I wish I'd waited longer. So we ought to be encouraging them not to be having and getting involved in sex in the first place.

HEMMER: Your argument taking us back to the whole issue of abstinence. What's, where is that argument today, Elizabeth? Why not promote that message?

TOLEDO: Look, abstinence is one important key component of a full education around sexuality and decision-making around when to be active, when to be not and how to protect yourself. Look, it can't be the only option. Teens deserve full information. They deserve to be able to protect themselves. And when they're given all of the information, when they're given full comprehensive age appropriate education, they make better decisions.

Some of them decide not to have sex when otherwise they might have decided to begin a sexual relationship. Others protect themselves and do it in a responsible, healthy way.

HEMMER: Elizabeth, if you go back to the argument about the numbers today, though, how do you defend the numbers we're hearing between the grades of nine and 12?

TOLEDO: Well, I think the study today addresses the question of whether or not condoms promote sexual activity. We know that that's not true. Condoms are addressing a population of people who are sexually active or considering becoming sexually active.

The issue of how to give, how to delay sexual activity or how to give people full information so that they can make healthy choices about their sexual relationships, that's a different question. We know that even when the -- even when teens decide not to have sexual activity, they have an easier time making that decision when they are fully informed of all of their options.

HEMMER: Got it.

Listen, we're almost out of time.

A final word, Genevieve, and if you could, make it quick, if possible.

WOOD: Sure.

Well, a lot of studies will show you that when you do pass out condoms, rates do go up. That happened in Dallas. It happened in San Francisco. It happened in St. Paul. And it also shows, look, the government is giving money, the majority of money for years to condom programs, sex ed programs that say you ought to be passing out condoms.

What President Bush has called for is more money to go to abstinence programs. And once we get that level playing field on funding, I think we'll have a much better idea of what really works. And I'm going to put my money on abstinence.

HEMMER: Got it.

Listen, thanks for both of your thoughts today.

A good argument and a good debate that will not end here.

Genevieve Wood, Elizabeth Toledo, thanks, in New York and in D.C. with us this morning.

Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired May 29, 2003 - 07:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A new study on teens and sex has renewed the debate about providing condoms to high school students. Does it lead to increased sexual activity? The latest study confirms earlier research, we're told, and says the availability of condoms does not make students more likely to have sex.
In a moment, both sides on this issue.

First, though, Dr. Sanjay Gupta back with us to talk about the details of this new survey.

What's in it?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, interesting, they actually did a large survey, a pretty large survey of just one state, Massachusetts. Findings, some of the findings, just as you mentioned. But let's take a look at exactly how they did this, first of all.

Over 4,100 students participated, again, a survey. So they were asked questions. All this data is from 1995, an important point, because it takes usually quite a while to actually analyze all this, eight years later now. That's when they're getting some of these numbers back. Twenty-one percent of the students had access to a condom availability program. That is a high number. That is reflective of Massachusetts. Around the country, it's more around eight to 10 percent.

And it's what is known as a moment in time study. Bill, what that means is they didn't give condoms to the school -- they didn't look at the school before they had condoms then give condoms and see how behavior changed. This is what they did. This is some of the results, some of the at least initial numbers.

Take a look at one of the study authors, what she had to say. As you already mentioned, "Condom availability was not associated with greater sexual activity among adolescents but was associated with greater condom use." Not greater sex, but greater condom use. That's from Susan Blake. Now, that's among students who are already sexually active.

And, finally, some of the surprising numbers out of survey, as well, half, half of adolescents between ninth and twelfth grade are having sex. Sixty percent of those sexually active students, again, in this survey, said that they used condoms recently, within the last three months.

Interestingly, as well, if you look at schools that do have condom availability programs and schools that do not, there's really no difference in pregnancy rates between those two schools, either.

So those are some of the initial data, at least, out of this particular survey.

HEMMER: Got it, Sanjay.

Thanks.

GUPTA: All right.

HEMMER: To the debate right now. Not everyone believes that making condoms available to high school students is a good idea. In Washington, Genevieve Wood with the Family Research Council, one of our guests today. And Elizabeth Toledo from Planned Parenthood live here in New York.

Good morning to both of you.

Thanks for your time.

GENEVIEVE WOOD, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: Good morning, Bill.

HEMMER: Genevieve, you just heard Sanjay lay out the principles for the study. What do you make of this?

WOOD: Well, I think the study, to a certain extent, is much ado about nothing. As the researchers themselves admit, they didn't look at what the students were doing prior to being in a school that actually handed out condoms, so we don't know if that actually affected behavior or not.

Bill, I'd make the case that even if it did, the fact is condoms don't protect teenagers or anybody else from a whole host of sexually transmitted diseases. And that's even if they're using them correctly. So the idea that we tell teenagers, hey, if you're going to have sex, just use a condom and you'll be protected, isn't telling them the truth.

What we ought to be doing is encouraging teens to be abstinent, not pass out condoms.

HEMMER: All right, I've got your argument.

Elizabeth, what's yours?

ELIZABETH TOLEDO, PLANNED PARENTHOOD: It's always in the best interests of our teens to give them age appropriate medically accurate sex education. You know, when -- some teens are going to be sexually active. They absolutely need the full range of options and full education about disease prevention and contraception prevention. Other teens are deciding whether or not to be sexually active. They also deserve the full range of information. When we trust teens with good information, when we give them full education, they're going to make the best decisions for themselves, for their long-term health and for their healthy relationships.

HEMMER: I understand your argument.

What about that, Genevieve? If they're going to have sex anyway, and if the study is right, 50 percent of kids between the grades of nine and twelve are already sexually active, why not give them the options they need?

Your case, what?

WOOD: Well, I think the case is this, that teens need to be sent a clear message. And the clear message is the only way that you're going to protect yourself from getting pregnant, the only way you're going to be sure that you don't get a sexually transmitted disease is if you aren't having sex in the first place. And a lot of studies will show you, Bill, even one from 1999, that teenagers say look, we want a clear message from society about this, from our parents, from our schools, from what we see coming out of Hollywood. We want to know what's the right thing to do.

And as it is right now, we're sending them a mixed message. We're saying the best thing to do is not have sex, but if you're going to, here's a condom. What we don't do is, as your other guest suggests, is give them all the information. All the information is if you're having sex and you're using condoms, you're not necessarily protected. And that's not a message that most teens know. Look, most teens will tell you I wish I'd waited longer. So we ought to be encouraging them not to be having and getting involved in sex in the first place.

HEMMER: Your argument taking us back to the whole issue of abstinence. What's, where is that argument today, Elizabeth? Why not promote that message?

TOLEDO: Look, abstinence is one important key component of a full education around sexuality and decision-making around when to be active, when to be not and how to protect yourself. Look, it can't be the only option. Teens deserve full information. They deserve to be able to protect themselves. And when they're given all of the information, when they're given full comprehensive age appropriate education, they make better decisions.

Some of them decide not to have sex when otherwise they might have decided to begin a sexual relationship. Others protect themselves and do it in a responsible, healthy way.

HEMMER: Elizabeth, if you go back to the argument about the numbers today, though, how do you defend the numbers we're hearing between the grades of nine and 12?

TOLEDO: Well, I think the study today addresses the question of whether or not condoms promote sexual activity. We know that that's not true. Condoms are addressing a population of people who are sexually active or considering becoming sexually active.

The issue of how to give, how to delay sexual activity or how to give people full information so that they can make healthy choices about their sexual relationships, that's a different question. We know that even when the -- even when teens decide not to have sexual activity, they have an easier time making that decision when they are fully informed of all of their options.

HEMMER: Got it.

Listen, we're almost out of time.

A final word, Genevieve, and if you could, make it quick, if possible.

WOOD: Sure.

Well, a lot of studies will show you that when you do pass out condoms, rates do go up. That happened in Dallas. It happened in San Francisco. It happened in St. Paul. And it also shows, look, the government is giving money, the majority of money for years to condom programs, sex ed programs that say you ought to be passing out condoms.

What President Bush has called for is more money to go to abstinence programs. And once we get that level playing field on funding, I think we'll have a much better idea of what really works. And I'm going to put my money on abstinence.

HEMMER: Got it.

Listen, thanks for both of your thoughts today.

A good argument and a good debate that will not end here.

Genevieve Wood, Elizabeth Toledo, thanks, in New York and in D.C. with us this morning.

Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com