'Sex is so dangerous, you need shots for it,' doctor tells teens at Straight Talk event”
WARREN
The organization is called Teen Straight Talk, and straight talk is what the young people who attended the group’s fourth annual Strengthening the Family Conference got, especially about sex.
“I apologize to you for this crazy world we brought you into,” said Mary Duke to the many young people in the audience of 150 at DiVieste Banquet Hall. Duke founded the Christian-based organization with her late husband, Roland, in 1989. Her goal: “Teach them to make the best moral choices so you don’t get negative consequences.”
That is difficult to do when “there is so much misinformation out there,” said guest speaker, Dr. Margaret Meeker, a pediatrician and published author. Meeker did not shy away from any of the questions the young people submitted, the majority of which dealt with sex.
“I’m going to be graphic because that’s what doctors do,” said Meeker, who was true to her word on subjects ranging from promiscuity, sexually transmitted diseases and sexting on social media.
“You need to understand that sex is so dangerous, you need shots for it,” said Meeker, referring to human papilloma virus (HPV) described by the Center for Disease Control as “the most commonly transmitted sexual disease in the United States.” She warned that there are numerous types of HPV that vaccines cannot counter.
“If you’ve had two or three partners, you’ve probably got something,” Meeker said.
Read more of her remarks and reaction from teens attenting the event in Sunday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.