Condoms
Comprehensive programs (also known as abstinence-plus) are misleading in the emphasis they place on condom use. These programs give teens the impression that condoms make sexual activity safe. Teens must be informed that condoms do not offer complete protection from either pregnancy or STIs.
 
The amount of discussion dedicated to "safer sex" in the comprehensive education exceeds that spent on abstinence by a factor of up to seven. Some of the programs failed to mention abstinence altogether. None of the programs carefully distinguished between reducing and eliminating the risks of sexual activity, and nearly every program failed to mention the emotional consequences of early sexual activity. 
 
The Teen Brain
The American College of Pediatricians position supporting abstinence-until-marriage education, unlike alternative education platforms, also recognizes the unique neurobiology of adolescent brains. The frontal cortex of the adolescent brain is still in development and unable to make the consistently wise executive decisions necessary to control action based on emotional input. Research has found that young people do not have the physical brain capacity to make fully mature decisions until their mid-twenties.
 
Consequently, when it comes to sex education, adolescents need to be given clear direction repeatedly, as is done with programs that address smoking, drugs, and alcohol use. Emphasis on contraceptive use reinforces the ubiquitous (yet erroneous) message presented by the media that engaging in sexual activity is not only expected of teens, but also the norm. Adolescent brains are not equipped to handle these mixed messages. Parents and teachers need to "function as a surrogate set of frontal lobes, an auxiliary problem solver" for their teens, setting firm and immutable expectations. Adolescents need repetitive, clear, and consistent guidance.