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Anna M. Peterson: No Meth - Not In My Neighborhood

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Statesman Journal (OR)

Unplanned pregnancies are not unique to our community or to this generation. What is new in recent years is the increased use of alcohol and drugs, coupled with increased sexual activity among teens.

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, about 75 percent of high school seniors have had sexual intercourse at least once in their lives; about 20 percent have had more than four sexual partners by their senior year.

Not every teenager who has sex gets pregnant, and not every sexually active teen is using alcohol or drugs. But further studies show that relationships do exist between these risky behaviors.

I recently toured a Salem-area home for unwed mothers, one of several in our area run by a nonprofit organization. I was impressed by their mission and efforts to provide a safe, nurturing home for these young mothers-to-be.

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