Fact Sheet Abstinence Centered Education Youth are faced with many obstacles that can inhibit healthy progression into adulthood. Many engage in risky behavior that could lead to negative outcomes. Adolescent pregnancy, school dropout, substance abuse and youth violence are issues that face countless Georgia communities Abstinence Saves Money Total Cost to taxpayers associated with teen childbearing: $344 million State cost: $177 million Federal cost: $167 million What Are The Benefits? Abstinence Protects Mental Health Early sexual debut results in later increases in depression and decreases in self-esteem, which persist throughout adolescence The dissolution of an intimate relationship results in increase in depression associated with first sex, particularly among females and relatively younger teens throughout adolescence Abstinence Helps Reduce Delinquency Early sexual debut corresponds to a 20% increase in likelihood of delinquency later in life Late sexual debut corresponds to a 50% decrease in likelihood of delinquency later in life Cost savings from preventing delinquency among youth: Average cost per child per day of incarceration: Regional Youth Detention Campuses: $257/day/child Youth Development Campuses: $222/day/child Average cost of supervision: $15.28/day/child Average court costs of juvenile cases: Approximately $800/case Abstinence Leads to Academic Success Abstinent teens are: 60% less likely to be expelled from school 50% less likely to drop out of high-school Almost twice as likely to graduate from college - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ABSTINENCE WORKS - It's ok to wait Teens and Parents Want Abstinence 91% of teens and 93% of adults think that it is important for teens to be given a strong message that they should not have sex until they are at least out of high-school Parents prefer abstinence over comprehensive sex education 2:1 60% of sexually active teens wish that they had waited longer for sexual debut Healthy Improve Health of Children April 2010