The Necessity of Health Education

Health education is one of the most controversial subjects taught in schools throughout the United States. Many people argue that the topics discussed in health classes do not have appropriate content for middle school and high school students to be learning. Despite the controversy surrounding these topics, health education is still an extremely important aspect of the middle school and high school curricula. Children are being exposed to alcohol, tobacco, and various drugs at earlier ages than ever before. Health education is the best vehicle to inform students of the dangers and consequences that are associated with these substances. Health education also allows students to become aware of the changes that will affect their minds and bodies as they continue to mature.

Alcohol is, unfortunately, one of the most easily obtainable and most dangerous substances on the market. Although the legal purchasing and consuming age for alcoholic products is twenty-one, that does not stop younger people from abusing it. Not only is this illegal, but also quite dangerous. A common misconception about alcohol for children is that the legal, mental, and physical consequences of using alcohol “end” once a person becomes of the legal drinking age. The truth of the matter is that the dangers of alcohol consumption extend far beyond the age of twenty-one and into adulthood. Alcohol can have devastating effects for people of all ages. “Alcohol causes the most severe and widespread adverse health consequences of all drugs of abuse, affecting virtually every organ system. Fortunately, many of these require many years of drinking so they are not commonly found in adolescents” (Milhorn). Not only can alcohol destroy the life of the consumer, but can ...

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...it just should not be the only message” (Teenage Pregnancy). Another topic that is often taught in health classes is driving safety. All of these lessons can be applied to real life and carried beyond the high school years.

Health education is often regarded as too inappropriate for children to be learning, but critics need to realize that these issues are being experienced at earlier ages than ever before. Children are being exposed to the dangers of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sex, and other subjects that are typically considered to be adult topics. Health education makes students aware of these issues, the consequences that are associated with them, and the dangers that they face if they choose to take part in any of them. Health educators cannot stop students from using any of these products, but they can teach them to think twice and potentially save many lives.