A partial repeal of needle prescription and drug paraphernalia laws resulted in dramatic reductions in needle sharing, and increases in pharmacy purchase of syringes by IDUs. As a result, fewer gay men practiced unprotected sex. Another successful program promoted a norm for safer sex among young gay men through a variety of social, outreach and small group activities such as dances, picnics, and volleyball games. Although the popular belief is that teaching kids about sex will lead to promiscuity, in fact, the opposite is true. A comprehensive review of 23 school-based programs found that teens who received specific AIDS education were less likely to engage in sex, and those who did were more likely to have sex less often and use contraception.
Sex education is most effective when it is begun before students have initiated sexual activity.
After one year, students in the program were less likely to initiate activities such as deep kissing, genital touching, and sexual intercourse. The US government still bans the use of federal funds for needle exchange programs, even though six government-sponsored reports have shown that those programs help stop the spread of HIV and do not lead to increased drug use. Similarly, ten states and the District of Columbia still have laws requiring a doctor's prescription to buy a syringe, even though four government-sponsored studies have recommended repealing those laws. In recent years, many states have passed laws that restrict sex education. For example, eight states require or recommend teaching that homosexuality is not an acceptable lifestyle, even though gay teens are at highest risk for HIV and most in need of education.