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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (July 30, 2002)
iesday, July 35 ^ss (price must personal posses^ item doesn’t sel qualify for the 5 celled early. Opinion The Battalion Page 5 • Tuesday, July 30, 2002: T & FOUND Abstinence is not the only answer Sex education programs should offer teenagers options besides abstinence gl! Name inside: ng has antique fii d, please return t: 'ORCYCLE 3 obo. (979)260-65: PETS Brazos Animal S' ir.shelterpets.org r adoption! 979-820: L ESTATE JENELLE WILSON D n May 16, the United States House of Representatives renewed a proposal from the 1996 Welfare Reform Act pro viding states with $50 million each year to teach abstinence- )nly sexual education programs. Before the bill was passed through he House Energy and Commerce Committee in April, Rep. Lois ■hadow 650VLXe,:. "apps proposed an amendment to the bill stating information used by he abstinence programs must be medically and scientifically accu- ate. Her amendment was defeated by a vote of 31-19. The defeat illustrates the continuing, dangerous trend in the American government of ignoring the ealities faced by today's youth. While abstinence provides the ultimate protection from sexually ransmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, it is unrealistic. Half of teenagers ages 15 to 19 have already engaged in sexual intercourse; by the age of 20, 80 percent of males and 76 white tabbies, first; lined, $15, 820-055! s has a great seiseA^rcent of females have experienced sex. Instead of protecting teenagers and young adults, abstinence-only programs put them at isk by ignoring the fact that they do and will have sex. Capps offered the amendment because abstinence-only programs use “terror techniques” of storage. mate needed at ex. SI 99/mo. + 1/3 mmates for 3/2 hM arge backyard 6gn tills. 695-7778. aded a.s.a.p. 4bdim2 roximately StOO/mo d pets welcome with it: 1609. pring. 2bdrm/1btfi in it Deal. $400/mo uti« >50. d dining^nciosM: an ^ misleading and inaccurate medical information to keep teens from having sex. For exam 776; pie, condom failure rates are often exaggerated. The Abstinence Clearinghouse website claims the condom failure rate is over 15 percent, but it neglects to distinguish between failures from 9MMATES | product malfunction and user error. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), proper and consis tent male condom usage has a failure rate of two percent. The CDC asserts that prevention messages must highlight the importance of consistent and correct condom use. However, abstinence-only programs are limited to talking about condoms only in connection with their failure rates. A panel of experts from the CDC, the National Institute of Health and the Food and Drug Administration found that proper condom usage can decrease the risk of HIV infection by up to 85 percent. Fifty percent of new HIV infections occur in the 13 to 24 age group, with most from sexual transmission. According to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, using condoms provides 10,000 times more protection from STD's than not using them, but abstinence-only programs are preventing this information from getting to teens. Most teens do not know how to use condoms properly, and abstinence-only programs fail to address safe and correct usage; they actually discourage condom use. For example, the Choosing the Best abstinence program states, “For condoms to be used properly, over 10 specific steps must be followed every time which tends to minimize the romance and spontaneity of the sex act.” According to a July 2001 Surgeon General's report, abstinence-only programs fail to delay the onset of sexual activity, decrease the frequency of sex or increase use of contraceptives. A similar report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released in April said federally funded abstinence programs do not have any significant impact on unwanted pregnancy rates or STD transmission. Yet, since 1997, abstinence-only programs have received almost $500 million in federal funding. The Bush administration has proposed $135 million in funding for these same ineffective programs in 2003. Studies by the Journal of the American Medical Association and the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy have shown the effectiveness of comprehensive sexual education programs, which cover abstinence and proper contraceptive use. According to the World Health Organization, tee is “no support for the contention that sex education encourages sexual experimentation or ^creased activity. If any effect is observed, almost without exception, it is in the direction of post poned initiation of sexual intercourse and/or effective use of contraceptives.” However, despite their 2bdrm/2bth apairc s and bills, own bdrmir :ments, 694-7868. ded, 4bdrm/2bth Unws g-2003, $326/mo. Deps >e, and first month pit es needed. 4bdrmS . all appliances, few mo. +1/4 bills. 69( needed, 4bdrm , 4bth coi ls. 817-219-6143. needed, SMmVI.Stl tished, walk to campus I. (979)575-2439. >ded, new 3/2/2, shuttle, net, $375i™. 1)383-8524. ist move-in, 1 dsl, security, i5/mo. Allison 975$ )44. ap. 4bdrm/4bth conli (pliances, Non-sw* deposit, cable incW ease. University PI* 3-8550. eded ASaTIS ;e, 1-mi from cW- . Emily 979-695-647! eded, new Sbdrrf: 300/mo. Lindsay, I* 31. ed. 2/1 duplex $35(l : luttle route, 1/2bills " e needed 3bdrm/2 jrnished very nice, io+1/3 utilities. Con 457, 220-0567, e needed for I* 11 h, Cripple Creek i- a needed. Lookinj No smoking/drfr 5/mo., includes ub ;ded. 4bdrm/2btM Ci ihlease $293 , '2 house! $306/mo- ^ ■eded. House, « $325/mo. 1/4biHs- : , friendly, student. www.showviz.ne- proven success, comprehensive sexual education programs receive no funding. In the early 20th century, condom use was discouraged because it was thought that anyone risking a venereal disease should suffer the consequences. Abstinence-only programs are perpetuating the same hateful position by ignoring sexually active teenagers. Abstinence-only programs are not about trying to keep teenagers safe; they are about trying to legislate morality. These programs purposely exclude gays and lesbians by teaching that a monog amous marriage is the standard of human sexual activity. Young woman with unplanned pregnancies are told that their only option is adoption. Abstinence-only programs will not even discuss masturbation. Teenagers who engage in sexual activity are not immoral or irreligious; they are simply une ducated about sex. Teens deserve access to proper, accurate and unbiased information about sex, which abstinence-only programs fail to provide. Jenelle Wilson is a junior political science major. RUBEN DELUNA • THE BATTALION VICES ast; Hope ation 695-9193' rtion Peer Co^ 'ORS ailable for boP^- i/hr. Travis 57'* FDA made a mistake T he U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xyrem, also known as GHB, for the treat ment of narcolepsy, an uncon trollable sleep disorder. Because of the dangerous potential of this drug, the FDA should not allow the pro duction and sale of GHB. GHB hit the bar scene in the 1990s as the “date-rape drug” and quickly became a dangerous tool that led to numerous rapes and overdoses. GHB was originally a col orless and odorless drug manufactured as a surgical anesthetic because of its ability to depress breathing and cause a coma-like state. In 2000, the Drug Enforcement Administration toughened the law on the Illegal use of GHB, adding jail time to a Pprehended users and distributors. HealthScoutNews.com said after several studies. Orphan Medical, the company approved to produce Xyrem and responsi ble for regulating the dangerous drug, found improvements in 448 narcolepsy Patients. The FDA and Orphan Medical have devised a system which they think W >11 control Xyrem. However, no system, no matter how well planned, will be suffi- oient in controlling Xyrem when there is an 'llegal and lucrative market for the drug. Orphan Medical said the drug will be dis tributed through only one pharmacy. The Patients, who are closely monitored by their physician, will receive Xyrem via Federal Express. Although it is a good first step, the FOA’s plan to control Xyrem is weak. Supplying patients Xyrem by mail opens the threat of mail fraud and tampering. It is also difficult to control whether the patient jMually receives their treatment. Orphan Medical is limited to how closely they can AND!BACA regulate a patient from selling or abusing their supply of Xyrem. Despite its attempts to reg ulate Xyrem, the regulations will create a more convenient source of the drug for illegal users. Increasing the circulation of Xyrem increases the drug’s availability for users and sellers. As more Xyrem becomes avail able, the safety of the public becomes a concern. HealthScoutNews.com said GHB has lead to at least 58 documented deaths and over 5,700 reported overdoses in the United States. While Xyrem might be a necessary treatment for someone suffering from narcolepsy, it is not ready to be pro duced in the United States. Controlling Xyrem is risky and costly. The effectiveness of Xyrem for nar coleptic patients is not dependable enough to risk manufacturing it. Narcolepsy affects over 120,000 Americans, but this is not a definite cure for the disease. Orphan Medical said Xyrem is 70 percent effective. Patients can also experience severe side- effects, including depressed breathing, con fusion, depression and nausea. Xyrem is a risky drug that has led to dependence, including cravings for medicine and severe withdrawal symptoms, according to HealthScoutNews.com. The FDA should require more testing of Xyrem to ensure greater safety for patients. The FDA should reconsider allowing Orphan Medical to manufacture Xyrem. There is simply not a large enough medical need for this drug to risk the potentially harmful effect it could have on this coun try. As long as there is an illegal market for this drug, people will find a way to get Audi Baca is a senior journalism major. Competent to stand trial Z acarias Moussaoui was declared mentally competent by a federal judge last week and allowed to represent himself after pleading guilty to four of six counts of indictment for conspiracy regarding the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But the defense team appointed to repre sent Moussaoui, headed by Frank Dunham, Jr., thinks otherwise. Despite outrageous remarks by the defendant, including accusations of conspira cy on the part of the defense team and U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, Moussaoui should be allowed to take his life into his own hands and refuse a court-appointed defense. According to Foxnews.com, Moussaoui was retained on immigration concerns in August after trying to buy lessons on a flight simulator for jet liners at a Minnesota flight school. He attended Airman Flight School in Norman, Okla., the previ ous spring but failed to acquire a license. After Sept. 11, Moussaoui, who was still in custody, was moved to New York and held as a material witness. In December 2001, Moussaoui was indicted by a grand jury on six counts of conspiracy, four of which could carry a death sentence. In April, he fired his court-appointed defense team and demanded the right to represent himself with the help of a Muslim legal advisor. Moussaoui believes the court-appointed defense team is part of a conspiracy to have him executed. With the defense team kept on stand-by, Brinkema allowed Moussaoui to represent himself, but she fears his grasp of the law is shaky. Last month, in an arraignment on a revised indictment, Moussaoui was forced to enter a plea. He pleaded no contest, repeating the actions of the judge who was forced to enter no contest for him in January when he originally refused to enter any plea at all. Brinkema, who believes Moussaoui may not really understand what he is doing, entered a not guilty plea for him. Prosecutors have been steadily working at specifying what conduct would warrant the death penalty. Topping that list would be direct involve ment with the Sept. 11 attacks. Moussaoui has JAMIE DUFF already admitted to being involved with al-Qaeda, but that does not make him liable for what happened on Sept. 11. Brinkema gave him an extra week to think about his plea and entered a not guilty plea for him after Moussaoui attempted to plead guilty and declare his loyalty to Osama bin Laden. Defense attorneys do not believe Moussaoui understands what he is pleading guilty to. Just last week, Moussaoui again pleaded guilty to four of the six counts against him, but then changed his mind after arguing with the judge. He did not understand that his plea would be interpreted as direct involvement with the Sept. 11 attacks. In an online interview with Fox News’ John Gibson, Ed MacMahon, one of Moussaoui’s appointed defense attorneys, said he thinks “Moussaoui is gravely confused about a lot of things, and one of them is the scope of conspiracy law.” MacMahon told Gibson that since Moussaoui refuses help, “you just work on what the govern ment’s giving you, and try to find out whether the government actually has any evidence that could sustain a conviction in this case.” Moussaoui has met with a New York law pro fessor and attorney with the American-Muslim Council in a session specially arranged by Brinkema. He is determined to represent himself. He is a prisoner in a country he openly declares as an enemy. He sees himself in a lose-lose situa tion and is convinced there is no way out. Having convinced himself the entire court system is con spired in a plot to have him executed, Moussaoui trusts himself as his only ally. The court systems in America provide appointed counsel to everyone because it is the American belief that you are innocent until proven guilty. If any man wants to refuse free advice, then by all means, let him. Jamie Duff is a senior English major.
