Why Abstinence?
December 15, 2022 | Lisa Fricke, SRAS, Program Director
As culture continues to shift, Live Free increasingly gets the question “Why do you teach abstinence?” Current culture trends seem to push sexual “freedom” and relationships without commitment. What is the big deal about teens having sex? Haven’t they always had sex? Shouldn't they be taught how to have "safe" sex?
Our answer is simple. Abstinence from sexual activity is the healthiest choice for teenagers. Period. Just like we tell our teens to abstain from smoking because it is bad for their lungs or from drinking because it is bad for their developing minds and bodies (and for their safety!), we teach teens to abstain from sexual activity.
Despite the mixed messages coming from music, TV, and social media, the fact is that sex has negative consequences on the emotional and physical health of teens. Check out these recent findings gained from 25 peer-reviewed stuides on Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) programs, such as Live Free (https://weascend.org/resource/sexual-risk-avoidance-works/).
The studies conclude that, compared to their peers, students who have received an SRA program are:
Much more likely to delay sexual activity
If already sexually active, more likely to discontinue or decrease their sexual activity
No less likely to use condoms if they do engage in sexual activity
Are less likely to engage in other risky behaviors such as smoking, drinking, or using drugs
More likely to excel academically
These findings do not even take into account the fact that students who do heed our message and make the choice to abstain from sexual activity have ZERO risk of unwanted pregnancy, STDs, and the emotional consequences that accompany teen sex (such as increased instances of depression and suicidal thoughts).
The message is simple, and our students are smart. When given the facts, they can make a choice for their healthiest future – to abstain from teen sex. We at Live Free believe that every student deserves to hear this holistic message.