[wagglebee]

"Whatever we think about the morality of sexual behavior, can't we agree that teens should be given a clear and consistent message that it is best to wait to engage in sex until they are ready to accept the financial, relationship, and emotional consequences of making that choice?" he wonders. For nearly all teens, he adds, that would be adulthood.

Yet the message they get in school and from the media is that it's no big deal as long as they use a condom.

[wagglebee]

Moral absolutes ping.

[jer33 3]

How many teens are taught that sex is not just a physical union but a spiritual one... and what are the conseqences of that union?

[whispering out loud]

depression, lemmesee could be caused by, uhhh, Iduno guilt maybe, or perhaps the fear of getting sick as a direct result, or just maybe it could be because it wasn't everything they hoped, or thought it would be. I've been a youth minister for ten years, and realized they get depressed easily, but usually the reason has more to do with emotions, than physical problems. But I do however agree though sex has one place, inside the bonds of holy matrimony.

[bella1]

From my perspective in the medical field, the birth control pill and antidepressants go hand-in-hand.

[Bosco]

We don't break God's laws, we break ourselves on them.

[gondramB]

"However, a recently published study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds that depression is actually a risk factor for sexual experimentation on the part of girls, and heavy drug use on the part of boys."

What an interesting way to look at it - instead of saying sexual activity and experimentation are risk factors for depression.

[Right Wing Assault]

I'm impressed! Someone actually realizes that cause and effect can go both ways.

[beaversmom]

This article is poppycock. If it feels good, do it. (sarcasm--for the sarcastically dense)

[Bones75]

Okay, so... depressed, troubled teens are more likely to get into things they shouldn't.

What a forehead slapper that is.

[Strategerist]

I was seriously depressed as a teenager, and it was due to a lack of sexual experimentation.

[The_Reader_David]

Although the epidemiology in the study---a correlation between teen depression and previous sexual activity---and the sort of post hoc ergo propter hoc reasoning which makes it easy to confuse correlation with causation suggests that sexual activity leads to depression, I would suggest the contrarian view that depressed teens are likely to try to assuage their depression with sexual pleasure, and are only diagnosed as depressed when the attempt fails.

The Fathers of the Church gave a good analysis of the relation between our fallen passions and sinful behavior. Pleasure-seeking is almost always a flight from the pain of our fallen condition, and always, just as the serpent's promise in the Garden, fails to deliver, producing more pain, and more pleasure-seeking.

[nicmarlo]

A prominent mental health counselor says depression may be the new sexually transmitted disease. He points to a new study that finds sexual experimentation and drug use often precede adolescent depression.

I would add in with this abortions, about which the 9th Circus said parents have no right to know about...even though parents ARE REQUIRED to care for their children, otherwise they risk removal of said children by DSS for neglect/abuse, etc. But, how can parents know how to treat their children for unknown ailments when they are not allowed to be told by school and/or other authorities who have taken it upon themselves to give minor children, not their own, birth control pills, prescriptions for STD's, and/or whisk them off for abortions, etc.?

[coloradan]

I'm sure this article would NEVER stoop to mistaking correlation for causation, but I can't find where it asserts this... Could someone help me out?

[Mad_as_heck]

You mean a life of depravity does not lead to long term happiness and fulfillment? Who knew!

[nmh]

Bump for later read.

Glancing over it, it makes sense.

Of course what is taught in school is precisely the problem. Have sex, ah "safe" sex and you'll be fine.

[philman_36]

Teenagers simply don't have the financial [or] the emotional resources...
Well DUH! Not enough experience yet to light the path of life. They're called "young adults" for a reason.

[philman_36]

How did rock and roll escape this sex and drugs study?

[Guenevere]

He points to a new study that sexual experimentation and drug use often precede adolescent depression....

...No kidding :^

And we needed a new study because we didn't know this??????..sheesh!

[No Truce With Kings]

"He points to a new study that finds sexual experimentation and drug use often precede adolescent depression."

'Ja think?

What a blinding flash of the obvious.

[capt. norm]

He points to a new study that finds sexual experimentation and drug use often precede adolescent depression.

Maybe the drug thing could lead to depression, but sexual experimentation....I don't think so. At least not if they're doing it right.