Pamela DeCarlo

In the following viewpoint, Pamela DeCarlo argues that American teens have the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies of any industrialized country. Therefore, she contends, the United States needs to follow the lead of other countries that have teen pregnancy rates half that of the United States and give American teenagers explicit sex and contraceptive education. Moreover, De- Carlo asserts, the earlier these programs are begun the more effective they are in convincing teens to delay sexual involvement and to protect themselves from STDs and unwanted pregnancies. DeCarlo is an AIDS researcher at the University of California in San Francisco.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to DeCarlo, what percentage of teens contract HIV by the age of 22? 2. What evidence does DeCarlo present to support her contention that most young...