You may have already heard that the FDA just approved the “morning after” (Plan B) pill for over-the-counter purchase by teens as young as 15. Those who believe young people can have sex without consequences are applauding this decision. But those who care about the health and emotional well-being of teens are concerned. There is a good argument that this is just one more message we send teens that we expect them to be sexually active, and that nothing will happen if they are.
As an educator, teaching teens about how to have healthy relationships (the healthiest choice being abstinence) I have had to keep up-to-date on condoms, pills, abortion, etc. as the “alternative” practices. Yes, this drug can stop a pregnancy from continuing, but it’s not 100% effective. In fact, ads for the drug admit 1 out of 8 women WILL get pregnant despite taking Plan B. No pill on the market does anything to protect teens from the epidemic of STDs they face if they are sexually active. The CDC reports that half of all next STD infections occur among young people. Indeed, Jeanne Monahan of the Family Research Council commented that “Additionally… a study released in 2010 revealed that adolescent use of Plan B was correlated with an increase in unplanned pregnancies and a high STD rate.”
And of course, no “protection” offered by condoms or pills does anything to protect the human heart. The powerful bonding chemicals produced through sexual activity affect teens emotionally in lasting ways…something ignored when our culture merely tries to erase the consequences of teen sexual activity by encouraging teens to just pop pills.