Fox News reported earlier this month that Washington D.C. had implemented free STD testing to 3,000 high school students. A whopping 13% came back positive for either an STD, mostly gonorrhea and/or chlamydia. Should Dallas implement a similar free STD testing program?
STD Testing Center Dallas
Being a conservative my knee-jerk reaction is to say “no” at the first mention of government spending, and calling hand-outs from the government free STD testing is a slap in the face to the hard-working middle class that will surely pay for this program.
Sadly, I must create a hypothetical to get my mind over this hurdle. Let’s say that this program will be funded by a new drug program where we take all the marijuana confiscated in a school district and ship it to California to be sold as medicinal marijuana.
Moving along, will this program solve or create problems. There is an ongoing argument over teaching teens abstinence or safe sex. What problems could this possibly create?
- Would providing free STD testing in Dallas encourage or deter promiscuity?
- Would another “free” government program add yet another brick to the entitlement mentality?
- Would the program have to cover high school dropouts and illegals?
All in all, I would have to admit that I believe that this program would be a good thing. Anyone that has had an STD test knows the anxiety that follows. How many times you promise yourself will never have premarital sex again and how sex isn’t worth the stress.
Teens are among the highest risk group considering they are walking hormones and are notorious for making poor decisions. It would be my hypothesis that if you can reduce the STD rate among teens than you will also see a reduction in the STD rate among adults.
STD testing in Dallas is a booming industry at the moment and shows no signs of slowing down. Heck, I created an entire blog devoted to this specific topic. You would be amazed how ignorant people are when it comes to being educated and aware of the problems and dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. Men are the worst. If they have some lunatic uncle that believes it is only women that can have an STD without showing symptoms than they believe it.
I also get emails from time to time from hypochondriacs. These poor souls. I am not a doctor so the only advice I can give is references from credible sources and an offer to get them tested. A negative result is met with short-lived relief and soon a new medical fear emerges.
