So, I found this story on the newswires: 

Sex Ed Can Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Comprehensive sex education may help reduce teen pregnancies without increasing levels of sexual intercourse or sexually transmitted diseases.

So find U.S. researchers who reviewed data from a 2002 national survey of more than 1,700 heterosexual teens, ages 15 to 19. 

The findings, published in the April issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, support comprehensive sex education, concluded Pamela Kohler, the study’s lead author.  “There was no evidence to suggest that abstinence-only education decreased the likelihood of ever having sex or getting pregnant,” she said in a prepared statement.

This study offers “further compelling evidence” about the value of comprehensive sex education and the “ineffectiveness” of the abstinence-only approach, said Don Operario, a sex education expert and professor at Oxford University in England.

And here’s my take:

My daughter, Freckles, is in fifth grade, although she’s only 10, and she recently brought home a notice from school that they’re going to be learning about the changes the body undergoes during puberty - in other words, sex ed.  They’ll be separating the boys and the girls and showing them each different movies, which we as parents are invited to preview.  We are also allowed to opt our kids out of this program entirely.

I plan to preview the movie but mostly to prepare my daughter in case I need to.  I absolutely do not intend to opt her out of sex ed. 

In fact, I’ve been talking to my kids about sex fairly openly and pretty honestly for a long time - in terms and using concepts that are age appropriate.  Mostly this results in a lot of giggling on their part and a lot of blushing on my part.  But, I think it’s important.  Especially since Freckles has been bringing home ideas and terms that she’s picked up from friends who clearly have not been talking to their parents - or to anybody who knows anything.

So, like it or not, they’re hearing about sex whether from friends, videos, commercials, TV shows, the internet or pop music.  Best to get correct information in my opinion.  I honestly don’t know if it will help my kids avoid becoming a teen pregnancy stat, but for sure it can’t hurt.

What do you think?

• 	Posted by: Sarit Catz | 4 Comment(s)
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(Getty Images)

Steve-O, from the aptly titled MTV show “Jackass,” is on a psychiatric hold and watch in L.A.  From there, he sent an e-mail to friends saying, “I did a great deal of damage to my brain” with drugs and “now that they’ve all worn off, I’m facing the consequences.”  I’d concur with that, and I’d like to add that riding a tricycle off a cliff probably didn’t help.

• 	Posted by: Sarit Catz | 2 Comment(s)
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An investigation by the Associated Press found a vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans.

How is this happening?  Well, people take their prescribed medications and whatever their bodies don’t absorb gets flushed away.  The wastewater is treated then discharged into reservoirs, lakes and rivers.  (This fact alone makes me a little nauseous.)  Then, the water is cleaned again at drinking water treatment plants and comes out your tap.  Unfortunately, none of the purification processes actually remove all drug residue.

People, we are taking too many drugs.  Don’t get me wrong, people with illnesses should get treatment.  But don’t ask your doctor for antibiotics every time you get a cold.

Americans are taking so many drugs.  Over the past five years, the number of U.S. prescriptions rose 12 percent to a record 3.7 billion, while nonprescription drug purchases held steady around 3.3 billion, according to IMS Health and The Nielsen Co.

Our food industry uses tons of hormones and medicines on livestock and even our pets are now treated for arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, allergies, dementia, and even obesity — sometimes with the same drugs as humans. The inflation-adjusted value of veterinary drugs rose by 8 percent, to $5.2 billion, over the past five years, according to an analysis of data from the Animal Health Institute.

Granted, the levels of these medicines are very low, but over time there’s no telling how much of theses drugs we’re taking unknowingly and worse, giving to our kids. 

And don’t think that if you use bottled water or a home filtration system that you’re safe.  Many water bottlers simply repackage tap water, and even if they don’t, the pharmaceuticals are in the ground water too.  Home filtration systems, usually carbon filters, don’t strain out the pharmaceuticals either. 

Think about this the next time you give your kid a glass of lemonade.  I know I will.

(Getty Images)

How about a little water with your medicine?

• 	Posted by: Sarit Catz | 2 Comment(s)
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I’ve heard from so many dear, lovely, open people whose lives have been traumatized by addiction. I dedicated my book to them and also to those who work with addicts and their families–“to the women and men who devote their lives to understanding and combating addiction at rehab centers, inpatient and outpatient programs, hospitals, research centers, organizations dedicated to education about drug abuse, and so on.” This week I heard from a friend who’s a counselor at a grade school. She asked a provocative question that I want to pass along to others:

“I’ve worked over the past 10 years with families at a K to 8 grade school in California. Every year there is always one or two 7th or 8th graders that we, as teachers, know are heading for high risk behaviors including drug use. We try and talk with the parents about this but, in my experience, the parents are very defensive and are unwilling to listen or to work with us. It’s so frustrating because usually 2 or 3 years later we hear that these kids are in some sort of treatment. I’d be grateful for anyone’s advice about this. It’s one of my biggest frustrations of my job. I know there’s no magic bullet, but any insight as to how to approach parents in this situation would be great.”

Indeed, any insight would be great.

• 	Posted by: David Sheff | 36 Comment(s)
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So I’m traveling around with my son, Nic, talking about addiction. It’s a tour to promote our books, but it feels more like a continuation of a family weekend in rehab. Sometimes I look over at Nic and just melt. Everyday I’m reminded of how close I came to losing him—how close he came to losing his life. I’ve been on other book tours, but this is incomparable: being with Nic, meeting people whose lives have been, in many cases, devastated by addiction.

Indeed, many of the people who are coming to our readings bring with them their own stories. I’m humbled by them. Yesterday a man approached when I arrived at Starbucks at the library at George Washington University. He told me that his son didn’t make it; his child overdosed and died. I’ve heard about similar unthinkable catastrophes from other parents – and also from husbands and wives and children and partners and friends and others — people whose loved ones died. Each time I’m struck with a blow to my gut. Nic is only alive – I only have my son alive because of the luck of the draw.

As this kind, open, brave father reminded me, You can do everything right. You can do everything you can for the person you love. And sometimes they don’t make it. It’s the nature of disease. It’s like cancer, he said. Sometimes people pull through and sometimes they don’t. All we can do is try. If the disease claims them, all we can do is cry and talk and hold onto one another.

• 	Posted by: David Sheff | 13 Comment(s)
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