Following on the heels of April being STD Awareness Month, what does it mean to be “aware”? According to Merriem-Webster dictionary, it means “having or showing realization, perception, or knowledge.” But judging by the fact that 1 out of 2 young people will develop an STD by age 25, I don’t quite think we’re there yet. And the scary statistics don’t just apply to sexually transmitted diseases and infections – approximately half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned and 3 in 10 girls will be pregnant at least once by age 20. It certainly doesn’t seem like this displays any sense of awareness about preventive behaviors and the costs of STDs and teen pregnancy.

So where are young people getting their information? Are they even getting information? Are they getting the correct information? In a political climate where the government threatens to shut down over Planned Parenthood and abstinence-only programs run rampant through public schools, the answers are questionable. Aside from varying degrees of formal sexual health education within schools, teens cite parents, peers, and media outlets such as television and the internet as sources for information about sex. In case you haven’t surfed the web lately, there are some questionable sites out there, which in turn should make us all question what kind of answers teens are getting to their sexual health questions online.

Speaking of media and technology, it’s no secret that teens are glued to their phones and texting like there’s no tomorrow. A Nielsen report states that teens aged 13-17 send over 3,000 texts per month, which averages about 80 per day. So where am I going with all of this? To create the awareness necessary for responsible behavior, we have to meet teens where they are. We have to tap into their technologically-driven world and give them accurate information they don’t get elsewhere. Enter the South Carolina Contraceptive Access Campaign’s SEXT messaging line: Free, immediate, and confidential information on a smorgasbord of issues related to sexual health. Take out your phone right now, ignore the missed calls and waiting messages, and text the word “SEXT” in the body of a message to 74574. The message you receive gives you key words to respond to. The text messaging system continues to prompt the user until the desired topic is determined, and then sends the appropriate information. This innovative system puts information on STD/HIV transmission, pregnancy prevention, and birth control methods at your fingertips. There is even a zip code locator feature to find local testing clinics and rape crisis centers.

Spread the word, tell your friends about the SEXT line, and promote the South Carolina Contraceptive Access Campaign’s efforts to enlighten and empower young people. Giving them confidential, accurate information allows them to make responsible decisions. Help us bring awareness to young people everywhere!