13 NYC Schools Giving Out Plan B Pill, Quarterly Shot And More To Students–Without Parents Consent

September 27th, 2012 - By Victoria Uwumarogie

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According to The New York Post, students at 13 high schools now have the opportunity to pick up Plan B pills through the Department of Education. And while that might not be a bad idea to some, it’s getting the screwface for the fact that students can now get the morning-after pill and more without parental consent. It seems that the less parental provisions set up to keep kids in check, the more times young women at these schools might be picking up the morning-after pill than they should.

According to The Post, nurses at the high schools can offer the Plan B pill and other oral and injectable birth control without telling parents as part of a new program. They can also receive Depo-Provera,  the birth-control shot that is injected once every three months. However, parents will be informed that these changes will take effect, and if they don’t like the idea, they can opt out of it for their child. About 1 out of 2 parents have returned the opt-out sheets to ensure that they’re informed of their child’s wish to obtain birth control and Plan B pills.

The group, CATCH (Connecting Adolescents To Comprehensive Health), is behind the program in hopes of slowing the effects of teen pregnancy, which can cause many young women to drop out of school. According to the National Association of School Nurses, they couldn’t find any other school district in the country giving students Plan B pills. When a test of the program was done in just five schools last year, it was found that more than 500 students received Plan B morning-after tablets and 580 students received birth control pills, according to the Department of Health.

With the new program in place, which doesn’t require parental knowledge, students who have unprotected sex can get a test through their school to see if they’re already pregnant, and if they’re not, a prescription is issued for birth control. While some might think it’s a good idea for a child to be able to get what they need for their sexual health without a parent’s consent, an employee from one of the 13 schools that will have the program didn’t like the concept of parents being in the dark about something so serious: “We can’t give out a Tylenol without a doctor’ s order. Why should we give out hormonal preparations with far more serious possible side effects, such as blood clots and hypertension?”

I don’t think it’s a bad look to have Plan B and birth control available for students at schools, however, I think parents should be aware of when their child wants and needs to obtain these birth control methods. Not only because of possible allergic reactions and side effects, but also just because it’s a very serious issue. Why would a parent want to be kept in the dark about their child picking up Plan B on the way to lunch and having unprotected sex, when they can actually be involved and take their child through the proper steps to obtain birth control? Not a bad concept, but what goes on with a child’s body shouldn’t be just between a school staffer and the student. These kids are getting way too grown these days…

*Opening image courtesy of Shutterstock Images.

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  • hollyw

    I won’t comment on the ethical dilemma of stocking schools with birth control, but I’d say that it shouldn’t be that controversial since the parents actually ARE given the right to consent or not consent…just indirectly.

  • hollyw

    I won’t comment on the ethical dilemma of stocking schools with birth control, but I’d say that it shouldn’t be that controversial since the parents actually ARE given the right to consent or not consent…just indirectly.

  • Fancy

    I got pregnant when I was 16 and had my first & only child at 17, so of course I know that kids are doing it because I was. I will not leave it up to a school to protect my child I will be open with my child because I would rather her come to me about that. I did not feel comfortable going to my parents. Even though I didn’t have any business having sex anyway, it would have been nice to have a program like this at my school.

  • GeekMommaRants

    Pregnancy is one consequence of unprotected sex. The most important consequence is for women is HIV, HPV and STDs. Men have the consequence of HIV and STDs. The only prevention is a condom and nothing else.

  • Danes

    MademNoire, can you devote one day to sharing positive, uplifting and funny news? It would be a nice change of pace.

  • realadulttalk

    I am so against this. First off…how many of the girls who might take this really understands what is happening??? My understanding of the morning after pill is after you take it you will feel like you are miscarrying…if you have ever miscarried you know how painful and scary that can be. Also, how much do we know about the long term affects of this pill? How many times can you take it before you risk no longer being able to bear children? And how many kids will use this as birth control instead of as an emergency alternative? I mean, if you can’t use a condom properly…should I have faith that you can take care of yourself after taking this? Kids are not educated enough for this. We didn’t even begin to talk about STI’s yet…this is exactly why I’ve been talking to my daughter about sex since she was 10…every 6 months I do a refresher and see if she has any new questions.

  • Nikki

    You can get Plan B (at 17) without a parent anyways, they are just not making access easier for the kids. People in general are so sexually uneducated, and sex is SO taboo that no one wants to talk about it. Condoms are a lot cheaper than a kid. My problem is this abstinence-only sex education. (about 40 girls out of 450-ish girls in my graduating class got pregnant, majority white metro-Atlanta area; Offers just about every AP course and has been nationally awarded plenty of times)

    As a college student, one thing I’m trying to get approved is a Sex Education weekend. I want to educate my peers on how pregnancy happens, how STDs are transmitted, how contraception works, where to get contraception, the emotional effects that come with sex, and age of consent/rape/molestation.

  • diane

    Clearly, none of you have tried “the morning after” pill … I have, and I can tell you it is no joke … my girlfriend compares it to having a “mini-abortion” … the side effects are not for children, believe me when I tell ya …

    • Nikki

      What do you think is cheaper, Plan B or raising a kid? Maybe the side effects will be bad enough to talk the couple into using protection…

    • Guest

      “Mini-abortion” – that’s absolutely correct. That’s exactly what is it.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Alicia-Berry/1252013946 Alicia Berry

      I have, and had no side effects, besides a period. How is it a mini abortion when there’s no fertilized egg? Your body get’s rid of the egg before it’s fertilized and attaches. If it’s already attached, too bad, you’re pregnant. Please don’t give false information.

      • Ashley

        Actually the egg could be already be fertilized. Plan B prevents the implantation of the fertilized egg (if it actually occurred). It takes about 7-10 days for a fertilized egg to travel and implant on the uterus. So some people may consider it abortion depending on their belief on when life truly begins (upon fertilization or implantation). I’m a pharmacy student and from working at different practice sites, I haven’t been able to convince people that’s it’s not an abortion if they believe life begins at the moment of conception.

  • pfft

    But let me guess, if there are adverse reactions to the meds like those mentioned in the article, parents who have no right to know about their kids receiving the med in the first place will be responsible for cleaning up the mess, or will the school step in here too? While I have nothing against planned parent hood, birth control ect. I really do feel sorry for parents with kids in public institutions. They have fewer and fewer rights when it comes to the rearing of their kids. Everyone gets a say on to do with their kids except them.

  • moemiel

    Bc i am in the health care field i see this more of an issue of consent. As long as its informed consent ( the girls/boys know what happens, why it happens) and still make the choice to take the pill its not up to the parents to decide. A person’s health information belongs to them and just because they r not of the mind to vote doesn’t mean they cannot make self determining choices regarding their health. Parents should open up the sex dialogue and maybe wont need to know everything about their kids sexual activity. provide your kids with the right tools for your kids to make the best choices for their lives. Also dont punish kids bc u think they should suffer the consequences of not listening to u. a 13 yo doesnt need kids, she needs education on how to not hv kids.

  • Yokessm

    Band aid on a gunshot wound, the issue is deeper than that, those idiots won’t use a condom and probably will catch something, I’m hesitating to give birth….

  • TeahMonae

    I am not a parent so maybe I would feel differently if I were. My thoughts are, they dont need their parents permission to have sex so they shouldnt need it for birth control and Plan B. They are doing it anyway!

    • TRUTH IS

      While teenagers are getting sexually active earlier than ever; without parents permission is foul. Also I’ll wait to hear in the next 10 yrs what side effects these pills have

  • Ms lady

    I am for the birth control many girls aren’t comfortable telling their parent they are sexually active.

  • Candacey Doris

    Some parents just don’t want what’s best for their kids, they want what’s moral for their kids and what looks best for the family. They may be growing up too fast, but I’d rather them be able to do that growing up without having to raise a child too.

  • HONEY LOVE

    Sorry but I am for it. Anything we can do to keep our children from “slipping up” im for it. I hope that it is stressed to them that these methods wont protect you from getting AIDS or any other STD for that matter. Like Ive heard a few ppl tell their children say, “I might cant stop them from fuggin’, but at least i can protect u from getting a baby by putting that behind on some pills”

    • Miss Anonymous

      If they are still doing the abstinence based sex ed courses it is being taught that those methods will fail, you will get preg and get HIV. That is what was taught in mines 10 years ago. The said part is that my friend in that class took it to heart and when she miscarried the next year, I asked why dont she use condoms she said the same as the man on the video we watched ,”they arent gonna work or protect me anyways so why bother with wasting money on them.”