Dear Editor:
In the first extensive national estimate of STD occurrence among young Americans, CDC researchers found that of the 18.9 million new cases of eight STD’s in 2000, 9.1 million were in people ages 15-24. Teenagers represent 1/4 of the people who are currently sexually active, yet they account for 50 percent of all the newly reported STD’s. In a journal published by Alan Guttmacher Institute, an article by CDC researchers estimate the lifetime medical cost of those 9.1 million cases is at $6.5 million. They also say that the lack of STD symptoms is a major obstacle to diagnosis and treat.
Each year more and more teenagers are engaging in sexual acts. In my opinion, it seems that their standards are decreasing too. There are 11 and 12 year old girls having sex. They are not prepared physically or mentally for the side effects for this kind of decision. We need to have more schools participating in helping our youth. One way is to have sexual educators give lessons to 6th grade through high school. Also, they shouldn’t just talk about STD’s and the physical affects. They should also discuss the emotional damage it may have on a young person. In addition, they should stress waiting for marriage to engage in such an act. After all, it is the only 100 percent safe way. If everything is flowing great, maybe we can make a national campaign against sex at a young age.
I would give this list to newspapers for media coverage. The Board of Education, along with the teachers, nurses and guidance counselors, can encourage the program and get it running in the schools to help us teens make healthy decisions for our lives and our future children.
Naomi Haft
Note: At Becton High School, we were given an assignment to make a list of 25 things wrong in the world. Then each student picked a problem they felt was most serious and addressed a solution and where they would post their comments to get the word out. Naomi Haft is age 15.