Emergency Contraception in High Schools: Is It Always a Good Idea to Have a Plan B?
In Case of Emergency | Plan B | http://www.planbonestep.com
So, in high school, a few things are clear. One is that there are kids having sex. Two is that there are kids not having sex. Three is that there are kids (in both of those groups) who don’t know what the hell they are doing. This is also true for college, btw.
We all make mistakes and decisions that aren’t always the best or safest for us, emotionally or physically. But for those in the having sex crew (or the everything but crew) some of those decisions can lead to STDs, HIV, or pregnancy. Condoms are the safest (cheapest, and easiest to get) bet for protecting as much as you can against all three, but there’s nothing wrong with having a backup (the pill) or a back up to the back up, if you can afford it.
Unwanted diseases, well, you just get stuck with those. Some you can cure, others, not so much. Unwanted pregnancies, well, there you have some options. And the NYC Department of Education is trying to make one of those options more accessible.T
Word on the curb is that some New York City Public School students will now be able to get Plan B at their schools. Plan B is emergency contraception, a pill that you can take after having unprotected sex, or after whatever protection you used didn’t work, or after you’re raped, to try to stop a pregnancy from occurring. It’s like back up to the back up. The trick is you have to take it within 72 hours (but the sooner the better) and it doesn’t always work.
The program is starting in 13 high schools and everyone seems to have an opinion. Some people are pissy because they say this encourages teens to have irresponsible (i.e. unprotected) sex; some people are supportive because they say teens need options and greater access, and some don’t really feel a way about it, they just think it’s practical.
No one asked me my opinion, but am I for it? Hell yes. Am I a parent? Hell no. Does my opinion matter? Probably not, but I’ll share it anyway. Look, everything has pros and cons, but my opinion basically comes down to this- what is best for the young women this program is intended to serve? Greater Access. The end.
If you have any questions about what Plan B is, how it works and where you can get it. Here are some quick answers to help you get informed.
Homegirl NYC 
As a sexuality educator and youth activist and advocate I think it should be made available in schools for the same reason why condoms should be! The general public hasn’t read the research, parents and most school officials. People say that if you give kids condoms and sex education that you are encouraging them to have sex. This has been disproved many times by prestigious research organizations such as the Institute of Medicine. The same thing with Plan B, if teens are having unprotected sex (which some are) what would make it a good idea to keep this away from them. Accessibility continues to be one of the biggest issues when looking at adolescent sexuality and reproductive health in the United States. The United States has the highest teenage pregnancy rate among other industrialized countries and one reason is because of our ignorance, oppression of marginalized groups (such as young people) and issues of access. Earlier this year Secretary Sebelius ruled that Plan B couldn’t be given out over the counter, despite the FDA saying that there was no “medical reason” for the age requirement. Plan B cost 50 dollars in most pharmacies. I don’t know how many fifteen year olds will be buying those like packs of skittles. So if your are under the age of 17 you are required to go to a clinic and a prescription, which means if it is the weekend or a late hour when the clinic is closed you are out of luck. So what does a young responsible woman do? You find a 17 year old friend and use your saved up birthday money from grandma and stock up on Plan B. If anything I believe it encourages teens to make healthier choices, because if they know about Plan B they probably know about condoms! It takes education to know about both. I think NYC is making a bold step, and I’m proud of my city. First with the comp sex ed mandate and now this!! Access is how we give our youth a future.
“Access is how we give our youth a future.” <—- THIS. #PREACH. Wow. Thanks for sharing. Can you shoot me a quick email (homegirl.nyc@gmail.com), I'm interesting in knowing more about you and the work you do.