Final answer:
Sex and drug education in high schools is considered primary prevention as it aims to educate and prevent health problems such as unwanted pregnancies and STIs before they occur. Most U.S. parents prefer comprehensive sex education that includes information on safer sexual practices, which research has found to be more effective than abstinence-only approaches.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sex and drug education in high schools is classified as primary prevention. This type of prevention focuses on educating the population to prevent the onset of a health problem, such as unwanted pregnancies or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), before it occurs. Programs that employ abstinence education focus solely on avoiding sexual activity, which does not encompass all the prevention strategies critical to sexual health. Conversely, more comprehensive programs cover necessary topics identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention including methods like contraception and safe sex practices, advocating for safer sexual behavior along with strategies such as condom distribution and needle exchange to reduce the risk of infections like HIV.
National surveys indicate that most U.S. parents support abstinence plus sexual safety sex education programs. These programs are evidently supported by research that suggests enlightening students about safer sexual practices is more effective than abstinence-only education for reducing unintended pregnancies and the spread of STIs. Therefore, primary prevention through comprehensive sex and drug education not only addresses the immediate issue of preventing disease but also prepares students with the knowledge to make informed decisions regarding their sexual and overall health.