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National Abstinence Leadership Council Establishes Guidelines to Assure Medically Accurate Information in Abstinence Education Programs

ATLANTA, October 25, 2006 — In response to rumors and distortions that have cast doubt on the integrity of abstinence education, the National Abstinence Leadership Council today issued the following statement on its position with regard to medical accuracy:

Recognizing that there is currently no consistent definition of “medical accuracy,” the National Abstinence Leadership Council has taken the initiative to issue the following guidelines to secure the highest standards for properly using and referencing medical information.

• We are committed to providing factual information based on research.
• We affirm that all medical information must be properly referenced from:
  • peer-reviewed journals
  • government publications
  • medical publications
  • textbooks or other clearly-identified sources

The unprecedented growth and demand for abstinence education throughout America highlights the need for ongoing concerted efforts to provide accurate information for youth.

We support the application of these guidelines for all federally-funded programs. We encourage all efforts by the GAO, HHS, and the FDA to assure that all information given to our nation’s youth is accurate.

About the National Abstinence Leadership Council:

The National Abstinence Leadership Council represents a broad-based group of abstinence education professionals, curriculum providers, medical professionals and other support organizations. In addition, more than 200 individuals representing more than 175 organizations are endorsing these guidelines. Collectively, these organizations provide services to a diverse population in public and private schools, juvenile detention facilities, faith-based and community-based organizations across all fifty states.