The problem is unwanted teenage pregnancy - not teenage sex. For most young people, teenage sex is a part of growing up that is neither dysfunctional nor damaging. The government needs to accept teenage sex as a fact of life and address how to allow young people to enjoy the fun of it - without the problems. Tony Blair's comments, in his introduction to the Social Exclusion Unit report on teenage pregnancy, that 'we shouldn't condone their actions', are unlikely to give young people confidence about seeking contraceptive advice.
Most young people are neither stupid nor helpless.
The high rate of teenage pregnancy is not because young people are ignorant that sex leads to pregnancy. It is because some find contraceptive services difficult or embarrassing to access, and others are simply not motivated to use them. Negotiating sex' with a partner is one of these. No amount of research into sex education methods will alter this. It is insulting to assume girls involved in sexual activity are responding to pressure from their peers or their boyfriends.