In the mid- to late-1990s, Nevada had the most teen pregnancies in the United States per capita. But since 1999, its teen birth rate has dropped from 61 per 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19 to 56 per 1,000 girls in 2001, according to a study released this week by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. The new study places Nevada eighth from the bottom in the nation for teen births. The Nevada Governor's Youth Advisory Council, which offers presentations promoting abstinence to students ages 9 to 14, has made teen pregnancy prevention its top priority. "We must still work hard to educate our youth about the challenges of teen pregnancy, for their sake certainly, and also for the sake of Nevada's struggling economy," said Jessica Cowee, abstinence education contractor for the State Health Division. "The social costs are enormous."

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