Madam, - In the United States, sexual abstinence programs have been shown to be failures. The commitment to abstinence is a very good one, but unrealistic. Studies in the US show that teenagers who take a vow of abstinence are the least likely to use contraceptives if they have a one-night stand. Of course, some teenagers keep up the vow of abstinence and this should be respected, but not all - and this is the reality.
From my own experience as a teenager, it isn't effective to tell teenagers not to do something if they really have their hearts set on it; they'll do it anyway. Therefore, I believe that promoting safe sex is a far better idea than promoting abstinence. - Yours, etc.,
PHILIP NULTY, Shanlis, Ardee, Co Louth