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ATLANTA, May 18, 2005 — According to numbers released earlier this month by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, pregnancy rates among Georgia teens, ages 15-17, declined 41 percent from 1994 to 2003. “Preventing teenage pregnancy is critical to the Department of Human Resources’ vision of Georgians living safe, healthy, and self-reliant lives,” said Dr. Stuart Brown, acting director of the Division of Public Health.

Fortunately, Georgia is now below the national average and boasts the lowest rate in the Southeast, according to a survey of states conducted by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy in 2000. “This is a huge victory in the fight against teen pregnancy in Georgia, considering that in the not too distant past the state was known for having one of the nation’s highest teen pregnancy rates,” says Bruce Cook, president of Choosing the Best. Choosing the Best abstinence education programs are being used in approximately two-thirds of Georgia school districts.

The latest data also suggests this trend is continuing; from 2002-2003, there was a five percent decline in teen pregnancy in Georgia--double the national rate of decline for the same time period.

The decline in teen pregnancy and corresponding teen births has curbed spending of taxpayer money for related support services. Based on an estimated $10,000 per teen mom, Georgians experienced a cost savings of over $100 million.

Abstinence-based education is one of the key components credited by the DHR for these outstanding results. Prior to 1994, contraceptive education was the main prevention focus in Georgia. However, in 1994 the Georgia Department of Education established a policy mandating abstinence education in public school systems, a direction that has been supported by both Democratic and Republican administrations. Parental involvement through sex education review committees chaired by involved parents was also established to supervise the selection and application of sex education programs in each school district. Teen pregnancy rates began declining in 1995 and have continued every year since.

These new numbers clearly show Georgia’s abstinence-based sex education policy is on the right path and is a critical element in the struggle to end teen pregnancy and that’s good news for all Georgians.

To read the full Georgia DHR press release or about other related abstinence industry news, please visit http://www.choosingthebest.org/press_room/index.html.