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10 reasons why Plan B should be OTC for all ages
1. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Aspirin are available over-the-counter (OTC) both highly lethal when taken in over dose. One bottle is all it takes. No age limit or mental health screen is required before purchasing either.
2. Plan B is most effective the sooner you take it. Reducing barriers to getting it (i.e. calling a doctor, asking for the prescription) saves time.
3. A 16 year old can drive a car. Legally. That is far riskier than taking Plan B.
4. Plan B has no serious side effects nor medication interactions.
5. A 14 year old who has a baby can sign consent forms so
hertheir baby can have surgery and make decisions what to feed that child, but not purchase Plan B to preventhertheir next pregnancy? Really!?6. Numerous studies show that access to Plan B does not encourage irresponsible sexual behavior.
7. Plan B is OTC for all ages in 8 of the 10 Canadian provinces and things still haven’t gone to hell in a hand basket up north.
8. Almost 1 in 5 practitioners are reluctant to discuss emergency contraception with adolescents, so having Plan B eye level helps teenagers know it exists and where to get it.
9. Making Plan B OTC is recommended by both the American College of OB/GYN and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
10. The World Health Organizations’ “Medical Eligibility for Contraception” guide has no condition in which the risks of Plan B outweigh the benefits.
There are a million (ok, a hundred or so) reasons to make Plan B OTC for all ages.
The only reason to prevent widespread access? Politics.
(via masenko-your-face)
