by Susan E. Foster

About the author: Susan E. Foster is vice president and director of policy research and analysis at The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

A recent PBS “Frontline” documentary chronicled an outbreak of syphilis among a large circle of teens in a suburban Atlanta community. What was even more alarming to health officials and the community was the revelation of a pattern of sex among upwards of 200 teens, focused around a group of girls, some as young as 13, with multiple partners, drinking and drug use, little if any protection, with no regard for the consequences.

Disturbing Connection

The events in Georgia raise the question of whether this was an isolated incident or a harbinger of teen life around the country. What is certain...