From 2009 onward, federal policy about sex education tended to favor an evidence based approach. If a sex education program worked, and was supported by rigorous evidence, the federal government would potentially back it. This was true of sex ed programs that taught students about STDs and contraceptives, and abstinence-based programs. As long as there was evidence for it, the program was eligible. In the last year, policy has dictated that the federal funding show a preference for abstinence only programs. And spoiler alert, the abstinence only programs don't work that well. This episode was adapted from a column Aaron wrote for the Upshot. Links to further reading and sources can be found there: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/22/upshot/sex-education-based-on-abstinence-theres-a-real-absence-of-evidence.html Aaron has a book coming out November 7. It’s called The Bad Food Bible: How and Why to Eat Sinfully. You can preorder a copy now!!! Amazon - http://amzn.to/2hGvhKw Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bad-food-bible-aaron-carroll/1125338472?ean=9780544952560 Indiebound - http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780544952560?aff=dhoom09 iBooks - http://itunes.apple.com/us/book?isbn=9780544952577&uo=8&at=1010lwmG Google - http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9780544952577 Kobo - http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=9780544952577 Any local bookstore you might frequent. You can ask for the book by name or ISBN 978-0544952560 John Green -- Executive Producer Stan Muller -- Director, Producer Aaron Carroll -- Writer Mark Olsen – Graphics Meredith Danko – Social Media http://www.twitter.com/aaronecarroll http://www.twitter.com/crashcoursestan http://www.twitter.com/johngreen http://www.twitter.com/olsenvideo And the housekeeping: 1) You can support Healthcare Triage on Patreon: http://vid.io/xqXr Every little bit helps make the show better! 2) Check out our Facebook page: http://goo.gl/LnOq5z 3) We still have m