I was reading an article by Lauran Neergaard who is a medical writer for the associated press. In the article she mentioned that the government is thinking about allowing the morning-after pill to be sold over-the-counter. They would limit access for over-the-counter sale to those 18 and over.
I can see that the only way the morning-after pill would be effective would be to sell it over-the-counter. I think most people will not call their doctor and get a prescription filled on time.
I am sure that making the morning-after pill only available to those 18 and older will be effective in stopping teenagers from getting it without parental consent. After all, we have made it illegal to get alcohol for people under 21 and I don’t know one person under 21 who has managed to get a drink.
Should the morning-after pill be sold over-the-counter to women under 18?
Comments (211)
It’s a bit too risky, I think.
nope, you should have a parent give consent
Yes; if there isn’t some way to prevent pregnancies besides talking…
I think that it might cause developmental problems…I’d say no
Messing with Hormones when people are that young is a nasty business.
no
should cyanide?
I don’t think so.
Tough question. If we say yes, then it looks like we condone teenagers having sex. If we say no, it looks like we condone teens being mommies and daddies. Hmm. I think I will have to think about this one.
In short, “I got nothin’” as my students say.
having the pill being put OTC is a great idea.. yound adult now a day prefer not to use a condom.. not to mention there’s always that 1% of getting pregnant.. birth control require prescription.. so as you can see.. ladies need all the option they can get.
people under 18 could easily get it…
they just need a friend who’s 18…
THat’s a tough one. I’d say no. Kids under 18 are still developing plus their maturity level is little to none.
No…Those baby ho’s need to learn a lesson!
nope, too big of a risk.
Nope, the little chicks gotta explain to there mommys what a dirty little slut they’ve been
^.^
xX-Nicole-Xx
I think it definitely should only be available through prescription … it could be dangerous for people to misuse it …
I don’t think it should be sold over the counter at all. There can be a lot of complications with that pill. If it’s used, it should be under a doctor’s close supervision.
I wont help, infact it’ll probablly make things worse.
Like how parrents complain about kids playing M games that they have to buy or rent..
Of course.
And if anyone thinks they’re risky, no, research it, they are not. The worst side effect out of that is vomiting. They are safer than a lot of over-the-counter medicines.
What are the HEALTH RISKS of the morning after pill?
That should be the ONLY consideration.
Could someone under 18 harm their body with it? Like a parent could stop their teenager from having sex…
LOL… these kids having sex … they should only have to be able to get their parent’s consent because technically they ARE minors.
No, I think the under 21 alcohol ban just took it out of high school and raises the chances of younger teens coming into contact with the drinking scene. I believe it was once set at 18, so of course the underclassmen would be at those parties with legal drinkers and get some of it too. It’s less likely to be at high school parties than it was before now. I think they’ll eventually raise the restriction on the sale of this pill too.
sure why not?
Whoa…there’s a little sarcasm there!!!
I think it should be over the counter to anyone over 18. But like with selling cigarettes and what not, it’s going to have to be closely regulated and the clerks are going to have to be responsible for it. I doubt some clerks can be. There’s a very fine line here.
Hell, give it to everyone like candy.
geez… NO… we’re live in such a “quick fix” society, don’t we? sad, sad, sad
“After all, we have made it illegal to get alcohol for people under 21 and I don’t know one person under 21 who has managed to get a drink.”
Is that sarcasm I detect?
Because I know a bunch of people under 21 who’ve gotten seriously drunk and stuff… not me though.
I don’t understand why some of your commenters say the girls have been little sluts. It’s usually the PARENTS’S fault girls become little sluts.
Look, if they won’t make the Plan B over the counter for teens, then they should make access to birth control easier, because teens will have sex regardless. Teaching abstinence does not work and most teens who promise abstinence, well, they fuck that (no pun intended).
Here in Canada, the day after pill is given over the counter at the pharmacy girls I believe 16 and over. Their parents need not know about it. *I’ve had a friend that’s needed it* I believe that by selling it over the counter, it allows teenagers or any immature female to believe that they can use that whenever while continuing to live their wild ways. Keep the pill as a doctor prescription with signed consent from the parents. This pill shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Those are just my thoughts.
yes, and if they are dumb enough to misuse it like others are concerned. then they deserve to have those effects.
idk.
no, its not that hard to get the prescription on the same day as the condom breaking but what is hard is being pressured to take it and having it so readily available that you have the series of pills in your hands well before you know if you would rather (a) kill a potential pregnancy or (b) be dumped by your emotionally abusive and manipulative sex partner. I had no problem getting the pills but to this day I regret not having taken the time to make the decision myself.
It’s like condoms. Giving it to someone is like giving their sex the ok. But if they’re going to do it anyway, you might as well provide them with the means to do it in a safe(er) manner.
That’s a tough question.
yes. forcibly.
It doesn’t matter.
Most people have friends who are 18 anyway, or have access to someone who is 18 who will do it for some money.
Honestly, I don’t see what the big deal is about it being legal. Kids are gonna have sex no matter what, and making it available to them isn’t gonna promote it in anyway. Those who want to have sex will, those who don’t won’t.
I’m all for it being over-the-counter. that makes perfect sense. And as long as they sell condoms to people under 18, why can’t they sell the morning-after pill?
The morning after pill is a series of pills that you take over the course of a week and it takes your body well over a month to recover. I’ve had a miscarriage and I have take the pills. I can honestly tell you this is not something to hand out freely or take lightly. It was like putting my body through a miscarriage without the certainty that I had ever been pregnant. I was in a lot of pain and very sick physically for a very long time. NO. That’s crazy to make it over the counter.
Nope
<33 Kimmy
My question is what happens if any woman takes it after the fact but isn’t pregnant at all?
It should ESPECIALLY be made for people under 18! They are ill equipped to bring a new baby into the world!
And your analogy is inaccurate, this pill is not like “getting a drink” it’s after the fact. The sperm is boring its way into the irresponsible woman’s egg and a new life is being pulled from the well of humankind…
Age should not be a deciding factor. Girls under the age of 18 can get birth control pills, why prohibit them from the morning after pill?
under 18? Heck no!
*A*
How about we teahc our sub-18 yr olds about contraception to begin with so they don’t need the morning-after pill?
There should probably also be exceptions for cases of rape or incest. Sadly enough, I’ve known of a girl who got raped by her uncle at 11 yrs old and got pregnant. That could have been avoided by having the morning-after pill be available.
yeah
Abortion’s riskier than MAP, and MAP if taken early enough will prevent an egg and sperm from uniting.
so, if it’s otc i think it would ruffle less feathers with people because it would be taken before conception
Uh…people seem to be missing the fact that Planned Parenthood already hands these things out like candy already. They already stole your idea, Drakonskyr. You should sue, and if they say they had the idea first, you can call into question the ontological significance of time if the universe is infinite in time-space. That should confuse the judge enough to get you a few dollars.
Dang, serious digression.
Bastards!
Then let us give them coathangers!
should be for 16 year olds and older. Plus, its not every single teenager having sex without a condom, so its only for the select few who get “prego” (pregnant)
Hmmm… that’s a tricky one. I’d probably say yes, even though in an ideal world they would have parental consent and all that. But if it means there’s one less unwanted baby born to a young mother who might not be able to properly care for it (before AND after birth), then it’s probably a good thing.
If there are no extra health risks for teens, then yes they should have access to the morning-after pill. Unwanted pregnancies take a much greater toll on teenage girls than one hormonal contraceptive.
Nope, only if they have parental consent.
I think it is a great idea as long as the restrictions are upheld. I think the fear is that selling it over the counter is some how going to encourage sexual activity in younger adults, I don’t see that as an issue. This is simply a way to make sure those who are sexual active are protected and safe, and if anything it encourages sexual responsibility.
Nope, it’s the same as drinking, until you’re eighteen your parents have a say in what you do with your life.
it’s not the health effect here that is the issue, it’s the fact that until you turn eighteen your parents are still legally in charge of your life.
RYC: I definitely second that. Nine would be a perfect time to start the day.
Oh, and since I wasn’t around this weekend…happy late anniversary! I enjoyed seeing all the things made for you. If I were creative in any way, I would have made something too
yes, because its better than them getting pregnant and then going for an abortion, which is more dangerous than a morning after pill.
Please Check Me Out!!!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I’m like Dan here at TheTheologiansCafe but I talk about current events and issues(most of the time lol)!!!
[approved by Dan
]
i had this whole thing thought out in my head .. and then i typed it all down .. and then it sounded dumb ..
so i just say no .. girls under 18 are going to be able to get it anyway .. from friends or even a random hobo they pay on the street ..
although it is sad that girls as young as 12 and 13 are needing this pill .. or having babies ..
what is wrong with this picture?
I keep seeing this stuff that says contraceptives and morning after pills somehow make sex perfectly safe, and I cant figure out if you just dont read enough or if that’s just what you want to think. Condom’s on average are only eefective 70-80% of the time and the morning after pill does have a chance of failure as well, and has no one here ever heard of std’s? Which by the way condoms have 0% chace of blocking.
I think it needs to be perscribed too, like the pill, it needs to be under the supervision of a doctor. Unless it’s not a big medical risk, then I think it’s a good thing, but I can’t believe there would be no medical risk. Sorry about the pictures ( anniversary ) oh well I was gone and that’s life.
no. what about the sluts out there who sleep with everyone? they’d be using the pill every other day, so that would have to have some horrible effects on their bodies. then again, i guess if they’re willing to look like a mutant by the time their 30 from using the pill so much, hand it out.
i think people should just care more and just use a condom. lord.
and i agree with crumblingdifference… alls they need is a friend who’s 18 to get them the pill anyways. im under 21… whos to say ive never been able to get alcohol? its the same with ciggarettes. ive had plenty of friends who are under 18 that have me get them ciggarettes. you just gotta have the connections.
<333
“After all, we have made it illegal to get alcohol for people under 21 and I don’t know one person under 21 who has managed to get a drink.”
ah, sarcasm. just as an underage drinker can find a buyer, i think the same will result if they make the morning-after pill available otc for girls 18+. and honestly, i think that’s wrong to deny such to those under 18. we have so many teen pregnancies as it is, so why not help us out by making the pill available for all who will use it?
The under 18-ers will just shoplift the pills.
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!
no. if they thought they were old and mature enough to have sex then they should be old and mature enough to deal with the consequences that come from that. if you dont want a kid, use birth controll if you just have to have sex!
if they have parental consent, i guess its none of my buisness. i dont really suppost it, but they are my kid so whatever.
Why not? It’s their body. If they abuse it they will suffer later. I knew a girl who while growing up had three abortions..Now she’s older and CAN’T have kids. She agrees “it sucks…but I did it to myself” Who are we to say what a girl can and cannot do to her body? She’s not my daughter.
Hahahah I love the sarcasm, Dan.
If it’s going to be sold over the counter, I think under 18 year olds will be able to get their hands on it….but I don’t think it should be sold to them. When they are that young and have access to things such as condoms and birth control pills, I think it would be important to show them that they should use those when having sex, instead of relying on using the morning after pill as a means of birth control. Maybe I’m wrong, who knows.
Yes, because *GASP* sometimes we fuck up.
The morning after pill should be in pancake form.
So you can feed your girlfriend breakfast in bed.
NO!
too young, they’ll be popping those like candy which could lead the condom to obscurity and the females to be at a higher risk for getting stds…
The morning after pill should be illegal, its abortion, murdering a baby if there is one there… and if there isn’t, then there is no need for it… it shouldn’t be axvailable to anyone.
mmmm. i love a good dose of sarcasm along with my diet coke and pizza for lunch.
ps. what are the gov’t reasons (assuming they have some) for only selling it to 18+?
I don’t think that it should only be available through a doctor.
A lot of parents are more or less absent in their childrens lives. Having to go to a doctor to get the morning after pill would at least put the person in contact with an adult figure who could provide some much-needed guidance.
You also have to ask how many victims of rape would just take the pill over the counter instead of going doctor for it (because perhaps they feel responsible for or overly embarassed what has happened to them) and in turn letting their attacker free to hurt someone else.
I can also see girls overdosing on these pills in hopes of ending a pregnacy later down the line. It would sort of fall under the mentality as taking more tylenol to better relieve pain.
Also very few people completely read medical information on anything that they take. Having a doctor explain exactly how it will affect your body is important.
Yes, and to let ya know, in Latvia (where I was born and visit a lot), they’ll sell alcohol to anyone, despite the fact that the legal drinking age is 21. As to the over 18 thing, it’s just like alcohol- teenagers are able to ask older friends to buy them alcohol, and it will be the same with the MA pill. Despite this flaw in the “system”, it is still a very good idea to sell it over the counter.
“The morning after pill should be illegal, its abortion, murdering a baby if there is one there”
It’s called the “morning after pill” for a reason…There is no baby one day after sex!
No…yeah that’s it, lets teach them it’s okay to just do that instead of actually taking responsibility for what they’ve done….lets put them in the mind frame that they don’t have to have safe sex and all they have to do is take a little pill
No.
It should be a behind the pharmacy but over the counter drug, though, or it’ll get ripped off constantly. And it’ll let the pharmacist/pharmacy techs make sure that the people that are buying Plan B know what it does, and how it should be used.
N-O!
If they can get abortions, they can have pills.
I love your sarcasm.
No. I don’t think it should be sold to ANYONE-regardless of age.
Please Check Me Out!!!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I’m like Dan here at TheTheologiansCafe but I talk about current events and issues(most of the time lol)!!!
[approved by Dan
]
Let’s call it what it is: its an abortion inducing drug. Therefore, as a staunch supporter of LIFE at all stages, including every moment from conception until natural death, I don’t believe it shoudl be sold at all. Period.
If you dont know ANYONE under 21 that HASN’T drank than seriously you must be living a sheltered life. Almost everyone i KNOW has drank before whether they do it regurlarly or just once.
Now about the morning after pill. Maybe you dont understand how hard it is being a teenager and havcing sex. No i dont but if i did it would be extremely hard for me to talk to my parents about it being that they moved to America froma different country. So since i have been born and raised here of course im going to take BOTH cultures into consideration but of course the one I LIVE IN and is ALL around me is going to over power it. I have to hide things like crazy from my parents because they dont believe in it.
SO why is it that you would want to make the morning pill unatainable to say, the kids that may not be sluts and have a boyfriend for like a year and deciede yeah living in this world with a show like sex and the city I DO want to have sex for the first time with someone i care about right now, and say the condom rips or something happens. SO the girl who is say 16 or 17 wouldnt be able to get it but the business lady who is 28 can have sex every night without using protection and KNOW theres something i can take in the morning every morning if need be.
yeah… its the girl’s choice, some of the time.
~snowsoul~
It is available OTC in South Africa.
nah, i don’t think so. but heck even some women above the age ho take them don’t have the brain to use them right.
maybe we should have to have a brain licence.
Yes. The morning-after pill has the potential to sharply decrease, if not stop altogether, teenage pregnancy. Kids have sex. You cannot stop this. You must accept this and move on to trying to make it as safe as possible.
No..it’s like abortion! Stopping a life! No one should get the morning after pill (but if they must sell it, sure make it OTC) If you don’t want kids don’t fuck! Gurr…
I don’t understand how people are saying that this pill is ANYTHING like an abortion. It’s taken the next day. There is absolutly NO BABY! Not even an idea of a human. It’s preventive just like birth control;…..Am I commiting an abortion each day because I’ve been on birth control since I was 19???
Feel the sarcasm. You don’t know one person under 21 who has managed to get a drink. Heh
I think selling it OTC is a good idea… it gives women the opportunity to prevent themselves from having an oopsie baby. Sometimes kids just don’t wear condoms because they just don’t think about it when the mood strikes. IF they think about it later then they should have a chance to do something about it… rather than just waiting for it to happen. And if they’re under 18… it’d still make it easier for them to get it.. I’m not completly sure that that’s a good thing though. It could end up being like… hey… I can do w/e I want and just take the morning after pill. I’d hope not though.
I don’t think it should be sold, period.
But it if must, then yea, at least try and take some responsibility and regulate it.
Lol, good use of sarcasm there too.
I know people under 21 who have been served multiple drinks and buy liquor.
There are ways to get around it.
You don’t know one person under 21 who has managed to get a drink? Do you live in a highly sheltered world? I know TONS of teens who have gotten alcohol. As far as I knew it was a very widespread thing that children could obtain alcohol if they so desired.
As for the pill at age 18 how much is it going to mess up their hormones? People grow till they are about 25 (the brain continues to constantly grow, I am aware of this aspect of growth), but people mostly have their hormones balanced out by 18 or 19 in that regard. (I don’t say all of course, there are exceptions to EVERYTHING.) Anyway, I can understand it possibly messing up hormones in say a 13 or 14 year old girl, but after 18 I don’t think it will mess much up, much less than getting pregnant at least. Either way, if a girl wants to have sex THAT bad they might as well have access to something like this even if they use a condom, this lessense the chance of more people being born. If you think about it, at 18 you can buy Cigarrettes and those will probably mess you up a lot more than the morning after pill will, considering Cigarrettes are a toxin.
you are grossly unaware if you do not know anyone under 21 who has gotten drinks
No, and I’m not sure it should be sold to people over 18 either. Be responsible.
I think it is a good product to have available. But I do not like the thought of any of my daughters having access to it that easily. Over 18 rule never works out soooo… I guess my answer is no and I will hope my kids come to me to go on the pill when they become sexually active. One is going to college in August. Should I pack her a pill or a box of condoms (actually condoms was a topic for me the other day)?
“After all, we have made it illegal to get alcohol for people under 21 and I don’t know one person under 21 who has managed to get a drink.” your kidding right? No i don’t think so
It shouldn’t be sold to anybody.
Nope. Making it avalible to girls under 18 will be telling girls to go screw anyone and it’ll be okay cause they can just buy the pills. Doesn’t everyone want kids to stop having sex?
Screwing up a teenagers hormones really doens’t seem like an over-the-counter idea.
[ariana]
alcohol is bother a poision and a medication. If you have heart problems they give you a perscrition for beer as long as you dont take ED pills. If you have a co-cain problems however and its causes the heart attacks; beer is also not suggested.
Beer and wine also effect your blood pressure or make you put that lamp shade on your head; it all depends on how you use it. Should people born with a heart defect who must drink beer to keep from having heart problems be able to take pills to keep from having hang overs. Why of course they need it.
Drugs like hang over pills and chaser beer pills have been out since the 80′s. This is nothing new. This is an old topic; revised and reworded all over again. The 18th and 21st admendment have the final say and thats why it is worded the way it is. The 21st admendment; well Im not going to sit here and talk down explaining something that you should have learned in Junior High School. If you want to know more about the 21st amendment do a google or something. From the looks of things you dont one: know what youre talk about or two: did not do the propper research fully.
“After all, we have made it illegal to get alcohol for people under 21 and I don’t know one person under 21 who has managed to get a drink.” Thats only partly true but Im not going to explain that to you.
Sorry for the really bad spelling I was mad when I read this and am mad while I write it.
hahaha you don’t know any one under 21 that’s drank? wow i guess illinois is pretty crazy.
Have a GOOD Monday Dan
…
oh haha sarcasm!!! i’m stupid
no because they shouldnt need it at tht age, i mean they shouldnt have involved themselves in tht activity yet
The pill should only be available to people over 18. I mean, you have to be 21 to buy a drink, so you shouldn’t need the pill unless you are 21 and over. Basically, if you think you are old enough to drink, then you damn sure are old enough to have a hangover from it. Take it as a sort of punnishment for drinking underage. I know I do. I don’t get hangovers that much though.
no
Don’t get me started…
18 and over = over the counter
17 and younger = presciption.
BTW I know so many ppl under 21 who have drank before.
YES! and why should teenagers be able to have access to the morning after pill without parental consent. federal law mandates that once an adolescent reaches age 14 they have confidentiality of medical treatment and services with their practioner, and no information can be provided to the parents without the paitients consent. of course law varies from state to state regarding adolescents and abortion, but since the morning after pill only prevents the egg from being fertilized and implanting in the uterus, and does not actually do anything if conception/implantation has occured, EC should be available OTC to anybody in need of it, just like condoms.
So Dan…do you and your readers consider the morning after pill a type of abortion?
No, let’s make it highly illegal so that drug dealers can add that to the assortment of things that they can make money off of.
Not under 18
“then they should make access to birth control easier”
maybe where you live, getting birth control is difficult, but here, you can easily go to a family planning clinic [and be under 18] and get birth control for FREE. yeah, not that hard ..
i know in illinois, you have to go to the hospital or doctor to get it no matter what age you are. you dont need premission or anything like that, you just have to go to the hospital.
i am really up in the air about this. i really dont think it should, but if it prevents unwanted abortions and things such as that, then it should be put over the counter. i dont know, i am up in the air.
wait a minute… you dont know anyone under 21 that manages to get drinks?!? HA!!! Seriously? Look at college campuses. I even drink and I am 19. It’s not hard at all to get drinks or drugs. Making it illegal doesnt make it impossible to get.
but for the record ..
why don’t we just contribute even more to the irresponsibility of young america today. offering the morning after pill over the counter is just an easier way of indirectly telling young teens [and even adults] to have unprotected sex as much as you wish. then just take a little pill [well, 2 to be exact] and take care of any “little problem” that may arise due to your stupidity. as if it’s not easy enough to go to your nearest family planning clinic and get it for free [and i know this for a fact being an acquaintance of mine has done it ... 6 times. for free. she's 15.]. we need to take responsibility for our actions.
No. It would be just like giving an abortion to an underage girl without parental consent, only easier. If people are so worried about getting pregnant, then they should just stop having sex. No pills, abortions, prescriptions, or parental consent necessary.
The reason for my question is this: The people that think the morning after pill is like abortion must also think that a woman who is on birth control is having an abortion each and every day. It’s a pill taken for preventive reasons before there is even a chance for a baby to be created.
What about those that are taking birth control for reasons other than to prevent pregnancy? Are they guilty of the same?
Here’s the question:
Is it legal to have sex under 18?
Yes it is.
Is it legal to protect yourself during sex, or prevent pregnancy?
Yes it is.
Then a woman, if legally allowed to have intercourse, should be allowed all forms of protection available and safe for her age and constitution.
Period.
To the masses:
Fuck your morals, they apply as much to others as others’ morals should apply to you. That whole “Golden Rule” thing applies to everyone. And I find it interesting that so many people, women included, are hard on girls in these situations. Your rights end where mine begin, and what I choose to do with my body (including any arrangement of cells within me, no matter how much they resemble a tadpole) is not yours to judge.
To the 50 year-old housewives who want to be judgemental:
I understand that it must be hard to identify with those ‘sluts’ who get pregnant at an early age, without a father. But what would happen if you suddenly got pregnant again? That would be the rest of your life. That lil’ nest egg that you set aside to go travelling? Gone. That nice new RV you bought for when you and your husband retire? Gone. You’d be 68 before you’d be able to do anything with your life. What would happen? How would you feel?
Evan.
It doesn’t appear to be any more dangerous than your typical over-the-counter medication, so I say yes, it should be given over-the-counter to females under eighteen.
Absolutely no way. The morning-after pill isn’t intended as birth control and that is exactly how it will be used if it becomes an OTC drug. Children under 18 having sex sickens me anyway. Pregnancy is a result of sex. If you’re not capable of caring for a child or at least utilizing proper birth control (condoms, birth control pills, etc.), you shouldn’t be having sex period.
i see/know plenty of people who drink and are under 21.
Unless this country beefs up it’s sex ed courses and starts heavily teaching safe-sex rather than no-sex, then yes. It is completely unrealistic to expect teens to just not do it. They will, so we need to be prepared, and we need to prepare them.
It doesn’t matter – they can always find someone 18 and over to get it for them.
not allowing people under 21 to have these pills isn’t going to stop them from drinking, but it’s going to make them drink less than if they had these pills to stop the hangovers. i think it should be limited, but i also think that the government is naive to think that it will make us (the ones under age) drink less, because I know a lot of people that knows and have gotten alcohol and gotten drunk before.
ok i hope that bit about now knowing anyone under 21 who can get a drink was sarcasm….
no they shouldnt allow that to be sold otc…. abortion sucks.. abortion pills are just as bad…. not my thing…
morning after pills are NOT abortion!!
No, it should not be available over the counter or anywhere else to anybody.
I’m only 15 & i’ve gotten alcohol loads of times without my parent’s consent.
Only if you want them to have complications and die.
no, it encourages not only premarrital sex, but also teenage sex and extramarrital sex.
I don’t think they should sell it at all.. It shouldn’t even exist for that matter!!
it’s not that hard to get them..you don’t have to go to the doc, just a planned parenthood near you. you fill out a form and get the pill and you’re done.
I like your alcohol comment, heh. Excellent point.
No, it shouldn’t be available over-the-counter.
Or at all, really. That’s a quick fix to a problem these girls need to give a bit more thought to.
I think that at least one parent should have to accompany the person below eighteen.
Eva.
People under 18 can’t buy alcohol
But people under 18 get drunk.
Even if they can’t buy it
they’ll get someone to do it for them.
But, it still shouldn’t be sold to women under 18.
<><Renee’
No, but since one voice is like a protestor at a heavy metal concert, they should do everything possible to make it difficult to get, which inludes leaving a kidney with the pharmiscists, two parental/guardian signatures, a lawyer’s prescence on golf half off day, and three vacationing doctor’s reccomendations.
It should be provided to any woman who needs it. What are we going to do? Punish them with pregnancy for not being 18? That’s a great beginning to give a child. Get real. Where’s your compassion?
No because some girls wouldn’t take them responsibly and they’d see it as a pass to have all the sex in the world. I think kids should just buy condoms and girls should get on birth control pills and try to take as many precautions as they can. Parents should also talk to their kids about sex and realize that not all heterosexual kids are going to wait until they’re married to have sex.
a resounding NO…they are hormones. if not taken properly, it is ineffective; thus, it should only be purchased under supervision of a healthcare provider…in addition, it is not without side-effects or adverse drug effects…those wishing to take these will need proper education/counseling. this is the case regardless of age.
No. It should be made illegal.
Well, a pharmacist that I am working with at the moment and myself discussed this and he said that “Instead of selling Plan B, we should allow everyone to become pregnant and then harvest the stem cells for research.”
to women under 18, no…..
OMG, teenagers are having sex? THE WORLD IS GOING TO END!
yes. we don’t need any more pregnant teenagers than we already have, and not having the morning after pill available isn’t going to stop anyone from having sex.
yes. might as well give us younger women all the options we need to prevent having a child so early. I’m on the pill…but for some reason if the condom breaks I still feel a bit…ehh..so the morning after pill would be great to have access to. I’m sure that I don’t stand alone.
no, they might not pay heed to the risks that may come with it
Definatley. It shouldnt matter how old the girl is. It would prevent so may teens from becoming pregnant. And then maybe there wouldnt be as many abortions.
Yes.
Did a bit of research on this- the emergency contraception pill prevents eggs from being produced. It is purely speculation (and has not been proven) that the pill interferes with an already-fertilized egg; indeed, this is unlikely. If the pill is taken and it fails to prevent pregnancy, it does not appear to have any side effects on the unborn baby. You may be confusing it with mifepristone, an abortion-inducing drug.
Those of you who call it an “easy fix” that is unnecessary if participants “just use birth control” are perhaps forgetting that no method of birth control (besides abstinence) is 100% effective.
And then, of course, there’s the case of rape…
I think it’s childish and hypocritical to say that “if they think they’re grown-up enough to have sex, then they’re grown up enough to deal with a pregnancy”… Adults have access to the morning-after pill, so if they’re going to act like adults, why shouldn’t they have the same prevention methods available to them? If anything, people under 18 have greater need of the morning after pill, since they’re the ones least equipped to raise a child. Personally, I’m not wild about 12-year-olds going out and having sex, but I’m even less excited at the idea of them having a 2-year-old child to care for by the time they’re in high school.
As far as I can tell, this not only isn’t abortion, it helps prevent it. If it keeps fertilization from occurring, there is no baby, and therefore there is no innocent life being destroyed.
In any case, personal beliefs do not belong in legislation. Concern for people’s health, yes. But “punishing” someone for having sex before 18 is not up to legislators or physicians.
yes.
No. Its hard enough to get things like tylenol, cough syrup and other things over the counter when you are 18. Why should this medication be any different? Plus it is more serious than tylenol and the such.
yes. unplanned pregnancy weighs heavily on us from a social/political/economic perspective. as a culture, we have not yet demonstrated that we are able to care for the “already born”, much less, the unborn.
there are more drugstores than planned parenthood, and it’s much more sketchy for a girl walking into PP than walking into a drugstore, so a lot of girls won’t go because they are afraid they will be seen.
No, not under 16.
yes, absolutely. People under 18 are still going to have sex, so let’s not screw them over…
I hope you weren’t serious about not knowing anyone under 21 who doesn’t drink, you’d have to be living under a rock. The way I see it, if teenagers are gonna screw around, they should pay the consequences. They need to take responsibility for their actions. But it doesn’t matter anyway because as several people have said, it won’t be that hard for teenaagers to get them, as it isn’t hard for them to get beer, cigarettes, and other things that they aren’t “supposed” to have.
TAG UR IT!! This is so scary. Send this to 15 people in the next 143 mins. When you are done press F6 and your crushes name will appear on the screen in big letters. This is scary cuz it works!! if you break the chain you will have problems with relationships for the next 5 years
JUST COPY AND PASTE!!! NO FORWARDS
comment back!!
Girls under 18 need to learn some responsibility. Condoms aren’t off limits to them, are they really that hard to figure out? I mean, there are directions on the box if you need them. With pictures, in case you can’t read. What more do you need to figure out how it works?
Denying birth control looks like the perfect option at paper. No birth control? Woman’s not going to risk pregnancy.
Enforcement isn’t the issue. A simple driver’s license or SS card would suffice. It doesn’t complicate things too much for the pharmacies.
But are we sure it’ll work the way we want? Nothing is sure, and we easily run the risk of the other side of the coin: more unwanted teen pregnancies. Teenagers will still have sex with or without the birth pill, but denying birth control takes out a vital tool against “oops, you’re a mommy now”.
Sure, teaching people is a bloated way to do it considering the so-so success of organizations like D.A.R.E. But that *gives* people tools to control their lives, instead of denies them.
no, need to have a parent involved or be atleast 18 years old.
Having the morning-after pill available over the counter just makes sense, so I think it should be available (legally) to those 18 and over. Of course younger people would be able to get it from older friends. That happens with everything there is an age limit on, but that doesn’t mean we have to metaphorically roll over and die and just accept that by making cigarettes, alcohol, and/or contraception pills openly available to minors. I don’t think a 13 year old should be able to just waltz into Wallyworld and buy a morning after pill, especially because of possible health risks to younger people.
Just another thought: morning after pills don’t protect against STDs….so will having it over the counter make more people stop using condoms (which do protect against most STDs) and rely more on the pill?
Mixed emotions about this one, but I don’t see why not. I mean it’s like saying it’s OK to be irresponsible, but only if you are over 18. Besides, you can accomplish the same thing with birth control pills.
If it’s only availiable to people over the age of 18, so should condoms, right?
But basically, I think that it should be availiable to minors. I mean, even if it isn’t, there’s gonna be teenagers having sex. That won’t change. But how about keeping teen pregnancy down?
Yes, there should be no parental consent. I remember when I was 17 I had a pregnancy scare. I knew my parents would flip out, so telling them was simply not an option to me. If I had lived in an abusive household, and there was no way for me to get the morning-after pill, I would have probably taken matters into my own hands and either starved myself to the point of no possible baby, or done some other stupid thing to ensure I wasn’t pregnant. It’s dangerous to not give teens the option to have the morning after pill. Luckily I went to a free clinic and they helped me out with a walk in check up, put me on the pill, and gave me the morning-after meds.
As for the ignorant people saying that only uneducated little sluts would need it anyway– I’ll have you know that my pregnancy scare happened to me with the first person I had ever slept with, in a long term monogamous relationship, and our condom had broken. I know, I know… how irresponsible of me! If that’s slutty, then you’re an idiot and I hope YOUR daughter gets pregnant.
I have very strong feelings on this issue. This “medication” is already being abused and is being used as birth control. Plan B (the name of the medication) is fastly finding it’s way into everyones hands as plan A it seems. When a doctor writes an RX for this med with an additional 6 refills the original idea for this particular medication has gone awry. NO this should not be made to be an OTC med and YES parental consent must be obtained.
Scary thought. Mother of 2 daughters – no. That way an adult has buy it for them and knows what they are up to.
“Denying birth control looks like the perfect option at paper. No birth control? Woman’s not going to risk pregnancy.
Enforcement isn’t the issue. A simple driver’s license or SS card would suffice. It doesn’t complicate things too much for the pharmacies.”
This is a comment from someone else and spells out my concern quite well. Plan B should NOT be considered a form of birth control. It’s purpose is to give the option to a woman who has been raped to ensure there is not an unwanted pregnancy…not so people can go out, have casual sex and as they wake up from their hangover in the A.M. take a precaution they should have been adult enough to think about the night prior.
Medications are always a sticky subject, in this case, perhaps the Pill should have the same guidelines as abortions. Simply put, the more ways you hold someone’s hand, the more ways they are going to find to push the limit… meaning? If you sold it to everyone you take the resposibility for safe sex off the person, “why? we’ll just stop by in the morning and pick up some pills.” More resources not only gives people better tools to help themselves… but also more ways to misuse them. (sorry for the cynicism)
My first reaction was, “YES OF COURSE!!” but then I thought, if you’re irresponsible enough to have unprotected sex and think, “oh, I’ll just get the pill!” then you obviously aren’t responsible enough to be having sex, so, I would say no.
With consent from someone 18 or older.
I just want to say this: so many people are saying, “Just use a condom!” “Get on the pill!” ….what about the teenagers who DO use the condoms, but this time it happened to break, or any of those totally rare things happened, and despite their responsible actions, there is a slight possibility the girl is pregnant?
Why should they be denied the MAP?
Yes THERE ARE NO SIDE EFFECTS FROM IT. IF YOU HAVE A MORALITY ISSUE KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. DON’T PUNISH THE REST OF THE WORLD BECAUSE YOU DON’T LIKE SOMETHING
no it would just encourage unsafe sex
Yes THERE ARE NO SIDE EFFECTS FROM IT. IF YOU HAVE A MORALITY ISSUE KEEP IT TO YOURSELF. DON’T PUNISH THE REST OF THE WORLD BECAUSE YOU DON’T LIKE SOMETHING
Posted 7/31/2006 at 9:49 PM by Pagannation666
I would just like to take a moment to comment on this. The whole point of this site is to debate controversial issues. Not everyone is going to agree. I would also like to address the issue of side effects. Plan B is a heavy dose of hormones. Approximately a quadruple dose of a daily birth control pill. Taken once I see your point (if u are not taking into consideration the mental state of someone who may regret taking it or may have taken it under duress as u have to take it within 48 hours of unprotected sex ). However, people who are using it tend to be using it more than once.Take this into consideration… A young girl, not fully developed decides to be sexually active. It is easier for her to get access to Plan B than it is for her to visit a doctor, get an Rx for Bc pills, visit the pharmacy and get them filled all while trying to hide this from her parents ( for whatever reason). Plan B will become the BC of choice for young girls and there will be unwanted, unhealthy side effects for these girls.
That’s hard to say. I tend to think it should be restricted to age 18 and over.
The morning after pill should not be given otc, simply because planned parenthood already gives them out to anyone that desperately needs it and doesn’t want to get the prescription.
Arg. A lot of people think that the morning after pill is an abortion pill. It is not. It stops the sperm from reaching the egg, but if conception has occured, it can’t stop the fetus from growing.
People at any age are allowed to buy condoms, why not the MAP? I think it is a good idea to have, if you are irresponsible the night before. Granted, I don’t mean to say it’s a better alternative to abstinence or condoms or the regular pill, but it does no more harm that the pill or condoms.
Oh my god.
Dan, please make sure only people who know what the hell the morning after pill IS before answering.
The morning after pill is NOT an abortion pill, people.
Christ.
…that should say, “please make sure only the people who know what the hell the morning after pill IS should answer”.
Yes. Especially if they’re BELOW the age of consent because then they’ve been raped. You can’t compare this to drinking alcohol because no one forces you to buy alcohol without your consent but men can rape women without their consent.
no, they are not responsible enough ADULTS to handle it.
The morning after pill has been observed to be as safe as aspirin, merely a higher dose of the same birth control pill, and doesn’t interfere with embryos that have already been fertilized. It’s just stupid to not allow it. Plain and simple. If a woman needs to use it, time is of the essence and she shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to avoid pregnancy.
Funny you should say “as safe as aspirin” Aspirin could actually be highy dangerous… Just a thought.
no
yeah, I don’t know many people under the age of 21 that drink…baha. Anyways… I guess they should be allowed to those under 18… we can be condoms….. come to think of it.. I think you can get the morning after pill if you’re under 18, without your parents knowing at one of those clinics.
are you kidding me? wtf dude, get shit straight. drugs, all kinds, are completely illegal in the us, no? then how come I know so many potheads straight outta the us? and you not knowing one person under 21 who’s managed to get a drink might be a little more correct if you meant at a bar or whatever. it’s still completely false, btw.
no
I think it should be available to those under 18. It’s not like people 18 & older are the only ones having sex, and I’d think younger pregnancy will affect a girl’s life even more. The pills aren’t like candy, they make you feel like puking hardcore. I took it before when my boyfriend’s condom broke, even though I’m on the pill. I’m not someone who wants to take any chances with having a kid before I’m ready.
Make access easier, and maybe there will actually be fewer abortions & unwanted pregnancy.
> No, not a good idea. But that doesn’t mean they won’t get it. It’s easier to find over 18′s around you, than over 21′s that you know and could make a purchase for you.
Peace ’cause you wanna’
yes
EVERYTHING should be sold over the counter or under.
I hope the bit about not knowing of anyone under 21 getting any alcohol was sarcasm. Because if it wasn’t, you need to open your eyes. And the same thing will happen with the pill. The 18+ girls will just get the pills for their younger sisters and friends. It’s not complicated. Pot is illegal, and just about every teen in the country has tried it at one time or another. A law just makes it illegal, but that doesn’t stop anyone from breaking it.
I hope you’re not serious when you say you don’t know anyone under 21 who has managed to procure alcohol. Either you’re being sarcastic or you live in an extremely different part of the world than most people. As for the pill….I agree with DMV.Give it to everyone, because most people have sex before 18 and it’s not like it’s going to be that hard to get anyways. A few bucks in a random stranger’s pocket works wonders for the underage.
wh0res
iDK.
no
it seems to me that the demographic MOST likely to benefit from such a thing would be those young enough to realistically NEED to avoid such premature parenthood.
No, not without parental consent.
ok well people under twenty-one still get beer n stuff for they have older friends..they can just do it again for the pill thing…
I think it should be sold over the counter…to adults.
I know kids can get their friends to buy it for them. But It`s better than a child with a child, or an abortion. JMO.
I think that the morning after pill *should* be sold Over The Counter to those over 18 with absolutely *no restrictions* (in terms of, The clerk shouldnt be able to restrict access based on their own belief, or the clerk/ store doesnt believe the customer should have it, etc, etc….obviously if there is a major health risk involved such as mixing medications or adverse side effects, that should be closely considered SEPARATELY from any other reason the customer “should or “shouldnt” have the drug), and that it should be sold OTC to minors with a parent or guardians consent.
I can’t tell if you’re serious or using sarcasm on the the Alcohol part. Raising the Drinking age to over 21 here in Oklahoma has hardly stopped anyone… I constantly see pictures of teens Drunk with a beer or some other kind of alcohol in their hand at someone’s party… True, Minors “couldnt” buy it themselves (But then, thers are always fake IDs too), but It is extremely easy for any teen with older friends get their hands on it. I’ve even known parents to buy alcohol for their kids and their friends’ use. Basically, what I’m trying to say is that Even if Clerks wouldnt sell the morning after pill to minors, anyone under 18 could almost certainly find some one willing to get it for them.
Leave the policy the way it is. One doesn’t need to see a doctor, go through the hassle of trying to get an open appointment, and get a prescription filled out and waiting for it to clear. All one needs to do is call Planned Parenthood, tell them you need the morning-after pill and they will give you a check up appointment the next day, and after the check up they will hand you the morning after pill themselves along with all the information.
Also, I don’t think parents should have consent rights for any of this. This is totally and completely the responsibility of the person who has chosen to have sex.
Making the morning-after pill OTC will simply encourage unprotected sex. Idiots who haven’t paid attention in school don’t know what the fuck they’re doing when it comes to protection against STDs and how sex works. All they’re worried about is pregnancy, but even then they don’t know what they’re doing half the time. EDUCATION. Abstinence, but if you choose to have sex, use a freaking condom. Condom breaks? Go get a check up and the morning after pill. Idiots. Prevention is always better than a cure.
“After all, we have made it illegal to get alcohol for people under 21 and I don’t know one person under 21 who has managed to get a drink.”
Haha. I love the sarcasm. But seriously, I think it can all be said in that line there.
Actually the morning after pill is not abortion. It only prevents conception: much like a condom. If the sperm has already ferilized the egg, it has no effect. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t kill anything, just forms a “barrier” between the sperm and the egg.
If we are going to allow kids to buy condoms or hand them out at family planning centers (also known as the place to get free condoms for teens who are too lazy to buy them) for free, why not?
Yes. If any woman thinks she may be pregnate from unprotected sex, then she should be able to make the decision to get the morning after pill over-the-counter. If you can have sex, then you should be able to get what you need to protect yourself. Simple as that.
’nuff said….
is that sarcasm about drinks?
Tough one… Someone under 18 could get raped, and we don’t want abortions. Then again, people under 18 could just use it when they wanted to, which would be horrible. I guess a parent or police officer could always buy it for someone, so I guess the 18 rule should stand.