Condom use by
Massachusetts teens increases

The number of teens in Massachusetts who report they regularly use condoms when engaging in intercourse has risen steadily over the past 11 years, following a ruling by the state's supreme court that schools could dispense condoms without parental consent, The Boston Globe reports. A new survey of 3,500 teens in 51 state schools showed that among those reporting having had sex, 65% used condoms, up from 57% in 2003. Sexual activity reported among teens has also increased, from 41% saying they'd had sex in 2003 to 45% today.

The state's supreme court in 1995 ruled in a lawsuit, which had been filed by parents in Falmouth, Mass., who said making condoms available violated their rights and religious freedoms, that schools did not need parental consent to make condoms available. Since then, many high schools across the state have made condoms available to students, although policies vary greatly between school districts. Generally, schools that offer condoms provide them through the nurse's office or vending machines. (The Advocate)