Young people define virginity and abstinence from drugs and alcohol in more liberal terms than adults, according to a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

In a survey by the Prevention Search Center and the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, researchers interviewed 1100 teenagers of representative age, gender, ethnicity and sexual experience. About one in four believe that a person who engages in anal or vaginal intercourse remains a virgin. A majority believe that abstinence is related to how long you avoid certain behaviors such as sex, drug use or drinking.

The authors concluded that adolescents probably underestimate the dangers of contracting sexually transmitted diseases from oral sex and other behaviors and could benefit from better sex education programs.

Teens can also have liberal views on when teen drug use turns into teenage drug addiction. Learn how you can help at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: risky_behaviors, sex, virginity