Straight Talk – For All Ages to Address Sex Education, STDs

Texas Tech will host a program designed to help motivate people of all ages to talk about topics regarding sex education.

Straight Talk – For All Ages is a program which is aimed at getting people to talk about sex education, STDs, and responsible decision making, and is supported by more than 60 community organizations, businesses, and individuals.

The Straight Talk program series is split into a section designed for teens and one designed for college students and senior citizens.

Sexually transmitted diseases are not just a risk for younger people, as one of the program’s organizers points out.

“STD rates among senior citizens have tripled and seniors are now one of the fastest growing segments of the population contracting STDs, including HIV,” said Linda Brice, Ph.D., R.N. “We wanted to make sure that they are educated about STDs and provide other medical related information.”

In the Teen Straight Talk series, they address such issues as teen pressures, dealing with peer pressures, depression, bullying, and body image and self-esteem problems in an open discussion forum.

The second portion of the Teen Straight Talk program will include “The Big Decision”, a comprehensive sex education program presented by Texas Tech Health Sciences Center OB-GYN faculty, residents, nurses, and students. They provide information and resource materials regarding how the body works, abstinence, sexual responsibility, and consequences, STDs, contraceptives and protection, and protection from sexual abuse.

All attendees will receive a free lunch, snacks, and informational goodie bags.

The Straight Talk – For All Ages program will begin at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3^rd at the TTUHSC Academic Classroom Building, located at 3601 4^th Street.