Teaching Abstinence to Prevent AIDS

It is hard to argue with the concept of sexual abstinence as the most important means of preventing AIDS, but to insist on celibacy as the only formula for teaching teen-agers about this dread disease indicates a tenuous grip on reality.

True enough, celibacy will absolutely prevent all sexually transmitted diseases, but that begs the question of how to handle those who can’t seem to resist the raging torrent of adolescent hormones.

I suppose this same group of parents would prohibit teaching about the dangers of drunk driving because, after all, their sons and daughters will obviously not imbibe before the age of 21.

ROBERT E. GOYETTE, MD, Rolling Hills Estates