Another reason some feel abstinence only programs do not work is that the U.S has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in developed countries, at about 750,000 a year.
The BBC in Washington reported that 17 states have already declined the funding.
According to CBS news, 14 states require abstinence and contraception education to be taught in schools. Nineteen states require abstinence only to be the rule, but will allow contraception education to be taught. The other 17 states do not relegate how the school boards handle sexual education.
Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards was quoted by the BBC saying,"This national program which has wasted $1.5 billion of tax money is a failure and our teens are paying the price. We've been wasting money on programs that don't work and we're seeing the consequences every single day."
Roger Norman, abstinence only proponent said abstinence is about more than sex. He was quoted by the BBC as saying, "Self control leads to a happy, joyful life. If we can learn to control the most basic of drives - the sex drive - for good, then we can control drugs, gangs, alcohol and abusive anger."
