The increase in the rate of teenage pregnancies leads us to question the effectiveness of prevention programs offered to adolescents. Several programs have focused on teen pregnancy prevention, from abstinence-only to more comprehensive sex education programs. Abstinence-only advocates believe that abstaining from sex is the only way to prevent unwanted teen pregnancies. If the practice of abstinence constitutes the only 100% safe method to reduce this rate, this is not a logical vision. Adolescents will continue to engage in sexual behavior, and it is important to teach them more accurate sex education. Withholding important information and facts about sexual behavior can change a teenager's life forever. Whether it's a teenage pregnancy or a life-threatening STD. Educating adolescents only about abstinence does not inform them of the risks associated with sexual behavior. Providing our teens with a more accurate sex education curriculum, including curriculum on contraception, STDs, better communication skills, risky sexual behaviors, abstinence, teen pregnancy outcomes, and including activities focused on career goals, could reduce the rate of sexual violence among adolescent girls. pregnancies and protect the health of our adolescents. Teen pregnancy has become an epidemic in the United States alone. Today, more than half of adolescents report having had sexual intercourse at least once before leaving high school (Glazer, 1993). Each year, nearly 750,000 American women ages 15 to 19 become pregnant (Guttmacher Institute, 2011). Teen mothers are less likely to complete high school than their classmates. They are also more likely to end up on welfare. Children of the... middle of paper ...... from http://library.cqpress.com.columbus.libproxy.ivytech.edu/cqresearcher/Kantor, LM (2008). Abstinence-only education violates students' right to health information. Human Rights Journal of the Individual Rights and Responsibilities Section, 35(3), 1-4. Taken from EBSCOhost. Koch, K. (1998). Encourage abstinence among adolescents. CQ Researcher, 8, 577-600. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com.columbus.libproxy.ivytech.edu/cqresearcher/ Sheahen, L. (2005). The case against abstinence-only sex education. Beliefnet. Accessed April 26, 2011, from http://www.beliefnet.com/News/2005/06/The-Case-Against-Abstinence-Only-Sex-Education.aspx?p=3Young people should receive comprehensive sex education , says the editorial. (2009). Medical News Today. Accessed April 25, 2011 from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145331.php