Age Limit on Plan B One-Step

[CodeBlu]

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http://healthland.time.com/2011/12/...ion-to-sell-plan-b-one-step-over-the-counter/

Plan B is not on the shelf next to the condoms and lubricant. Now if you are under the age of 17, you need an Rx from a doctor. If you're over 17, you still have to go up to the pharmacist and ask for it. What I fail to comprehend is how is a 16 year old, that much different from a 17 year old.

It's ok to take emergency contraception if you're 17, but not if you're 16...15... ???

Sure, people are going to reply to this thread and say "Well they shouldn't be having sex at that age..." Well... TOUGH, they are. And if you think your kids in the future aren't going to do the same things you did, and worse... then you're delusional.

Practically speaking, what would you prefer...

1) Your teenage daughter not being able to talk to you about her issues because she's scared you'll smite her down bla bla bla.

2) Your teenage daughter not being afraid to tell you that she had unprotected sex or a condom broke or she's really drunk and can't drive home from a party and wants you to come pick her up.

This might just be my personal preference, but I know my parents have a no questions asked policy. I could call them at any time of day and they'd help me out no matter what.

 

[aSagacious]

As a society we have to drawn lines somewhere, right? Why is the drinking age 21 (or 18, or 16)? Why can you vote, smoke, or gamble at 18?

In this instance I think they were just trying to be consistent with the age of consent (though I know this also varies by state).

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

As a society we have to drawn lines somewhere, right? Why is the drinking age 21 (or 18, or 16)? Why can you vote, smoke, or gamble at 18?

In this instance I think they were just trying to be consistent with the age of consent (though I know this also varies by state).

How many of those lines do you think are arbitrary?

 

[CodeBlu]

As a society we have to drawn lines somewhere, right? Why is the drinking age 21 (or 18, or 16)? Why can you vote, smoke, or gamble at 18?

In this instance I think they were just trying to be consistent with the age of consent (though I know this also varies by state).

Thing is my dear Saggy bottom... (inb4impeachsaggybottommovement shows up)...

Why did they decide to draw the line all of a sudden? What changed?

 

[aSagacious]

How many of those lines do you think are arbitrary?

Most of them.

 

[Stumpyman]

This is 21st century America; kids are banging each other and smoking marijuana before they hit 8th grade.

Kids should start talking to their parents about issues they face.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Thing is my dear Saggy bottom... (inb4impeachsaggybottommovement shows up)...

Why did they decide to draw the line all of a sudden? What changed?

People complained, governments refused to fund roads, etc.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

This is 21st century America; kids are banging each other and smoking marijuana before they hit 8th grade.

Kids should start talking to their parents about issues they face.

And how many kids get thrown out or disowned for telling their parents about things like that?

 

[aSagacious]

Thing is my dear Saggy bottom... (inb4impeachsaggybottommovement shows up)...

Why did they decide to draw the line all of a sudden? What changed?

I'm confused, I thought a required RX was the status quo? The over-the-counter request (and recent denial) was the development.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/07/us-teva-planb-fda-idUSTRE7B61V120111207

 

[Stumpyman]

And how many kids get thrown out or disowned for telling their parents about things like that?

I just wanted to quote It's Always Sunny 😎

 

[orthomyxo]

I don't think Plan B will or should ever be on the shelf. What's worse, 16 year olds needing a prescription to get it, or minors using it recklessly as their go-to method of birth control? Maybe these kids will learn something if they actually have to be proactive about getting it.

I don't know why people get all up in arms about Plan B being kept behind the pharmacy counter, as if that's some huge barrier. I've dispensed it before and it's literally the easiest thing ever to get, and IMO conscientious objection is pretty much a non-issue.

 

[NickNaylor]

I don't think Plan B will or should ever be on the shelf. What's worse, 16 year olds needing a prescription to get it, or minors using it recklessly as their go-to method of birth control? Maybe these kids will learn something if they actually have to be proactive about getting it.

I don't know why people get all up in arms about Plan B being kept behind the pharmacy counter, as if that's some huge barrier. I've dispensed it before and it's literally the easiest thing ever to get. IMO conscientious objection is pretty much a non-issue.

I agree. Seems like a pretty minor issue to be getting excited about.

 

[sibitrum]

The problem here is you have a political appointee overriding, for political purposes, a well-studied opinion from the FDA.

 

[phnerd1105]

I was totally going to post this. inb4'ed by Codeblu

 

[Starlightembers]

The fact that it requires a prescription is problematic as, in most states, this would require that their parents be informed, as most* states (a) do not allow a physician to see a minor without parental consent and (b) certainly do not allow them to write a prescription for the minor. If a child or adolescent lives in a home where there is either no parental support, family dysfunction or with highly conservative values, this could prevent them from getting it.

Interestingly enough, in my state -- and a couple others -- minors can obtain an abortion without parental consent. Thus, with this ruling, minors here are allowed to undergo a medical procedure; but are not allowed to take a contraceptive drug that has been shown safe and effective. This seems inherently illogical.

*Some states have what is known as a "Mature Minor Clause", which allows for a physician to determine if the minor is mature enough to give consent for non-major treatments and procedures.

 

[NickNaylor]

The fact that it requires a prescription is problematic as, in most states, this would require that their parents be informed, as most* states (a) do not allow a physician to see a minor without parental consent and (b) certainly do not allow them to write a prescription for the minor. If a child or adolescent lives in a home where there is either no parental support, family dysfunction or with highly conservative values, this could prevent them from getting it.

There's a simple explanation for this: children aren't adults. There's a reason that minors are unable to enter into legally binding contracts, for example: the legislature has determined that children, in many cases, are unable to see the consequences of their own actions and/or lack the ability to engage in effective judgment. This equally applies in matters related to healthcare and health procedures.

Of course, I know that there are plenty of minor children that are likely more mature and reasonable than their parents, but these certainly are not the majority. Unfortunately one of the inherent weaknesses of equitable application of the law is that a few people might be shortchanged for (in theory) the benefit and protection of the many. The legislature determined that 18 is a good age to transfer responsibility over a child's own life to himself.

I agree that it's entirely illogical that you might be able to get an abortion legally without parental consent while you're unable to get a plan B prescription without parental consent. But that's what you get when the federal government regulates one thing and the states regulate the other.

 

[phnerd1105]

The problem here is you have a political appointee overriding, for political purposes, a well-studied opinion from the FDA.

This is exactly what is happening. I didn't expect this from Sebelius at all. Medically, the FDA's recommendation was completely legitimate. The move is a political one, of which I can only speculate as to her motivations

I don't think Plan B will or should ever be on the shelf. What's worse, 16 year olds needing a prescription to get it, or minors using it recklessly as their go-to method of birth control? Maybe these kids will learn something if they actually have to be proactive about getting it.

I don't know why people get all up in arms about Plan B being kept behind the pharmacy counter, as if that's some huge barrier. I've dispensed it before and it's literally the easiest thing ever to get, and IMO conscientious objection is pretty much a non-issue.

This is the age old question. Does making something accessible increase it's use? I don't think minors would use it recklessly as birth control. Hell, you could make the same argument for condoms, in that their use in assisting in STD and pregnancy prevention maybe increase the number of teens having sex, as they are no longer scared of the consequences. Do you want condoms to have a prescription too?

Reducing unwanted teen pregnancies is honestly more of a concern to me. Teens are going to have sex. While you need education to ensure that they are doing it safely, you also need to provide measures in case something goes wrong. Not many teens can get a prescription within 3 days of intercourse, which is the limit to using the pill. Not all teens practice safe sex, which is why I think that having another option of birth control would be beneficial. Additionally, the cost is also a barrier to having just any teen using it as their "go-to" method of birth control.

 

[NickNaylor]

Additionally, the cost is also a barrier to having just any teen using it as their "go-to" method of birth control.

So how do we solve this point in particular? Give all high school students a coupon for a free course of plan B?

I'm obviously being a little facetious, but the core of the question is serious.

 

[Starlightembers]

There's a simple explanation for this: children aren't adults. There's a reason that minors are unable to enter into legally binding contracts, for example: the legislature has determined that children, in many cases, are unable to see the consequences of their own actions and/or lack the ability to engage in effective judgment. This equally applies in matters related to healthcare and health procedures.

Of course, I know that there are plenty of minor children that are likely more mature and reasonable than their parents, but these certainly are not the majority. Unfortunately one of the inherent weaknesses of equitable application of the law is that a few people might be shortchanged for (in theory) the benefit and protection of the many. The legislature determined that 18 is a good age to transfer responsibility over a child's own life to himself.

I agree that it's entirely illogical that you might be able to get an abortion legally without parental consent while you're unable to get a plan B prescription without parental consent. But that's what you get when the federal government regulates one thing and the states regulate the other.

I agree that a significant portion -- if not the majority -- of minors do not posses the maturity required to consent to medical treatment. This is, however, one of the reasons that I support the idea of the Mature Minor Clause (or laws that, though more specific, contain something like it. For example, the law stating minors can have an abortion is a separate law; however, it also stated the physician must attest the minor is mature enough to consent), which allows for an exception to be made on case by case determination. That way, you protect the health and safety of the majority, while still allowing that minority to have access to the care that they need (and, honestly, it is hard for me to imagine that a teenager who falls into the immature group would be proactive enough to seek out emergency contraceptive).

 

[phnerd1105]

So how do we solve this point in particular? Give all high school students a coupon for a free course of plan B?

I'm obviously being a little facetious, but the core of the question is serious.

Funny, but no. In my opinion, you keep the price as is. I believe the price for a one-pill treatment is around $50. Not so expensive where if a teen had a little accident, they couldn't afford it, but high enough so that it couldn't consistently be used as a means of contraception.

 

[roseglass6370]

I'm really surprised by the results of this poll...

Plan B is a medication that is pretty intense. It contains a powerful dose of hormones. Maybe there are sexually active 7th and 8th graders out there (not maybe, there are), but I don't think they should be able to go and take this stuff without a prescription. I just don't think most 13 and 14 year old kids are mature enough to be handed this stuff without an adult knowing that they have it. Likewise, I don't think 13 and 14 year olds should be handed a 6-pack of beer and told to go have fun. It's risky.

There is a reason that certain OTC cold medicines aren't sold to individuals under a certain age. That law isn't in place because parents want to know that their kids have a cold. It exists because not all middle-schoolers and even high-schoolers are mature enough to not abuse them. It's a fact. Similarly, I think there should be an age limit on Plan B not because I think parents need to know that their kid is sexually active (although, I do think that if I were a parent I would want to know that my 14 year old is having sex, but I digress...). Rather, I think there should be an age limit because kids shouldn't be handed unprescribed high-level doses of hormones.

 

[Starlightembers]

Funny, but no. In my opinion, you keep the price as is. I believe the price for a one-pill treatment is around $50. Not so expensive where if a teen had a little accident, they couldn't afford it, but high enough so that it couldn't consistently be used as a means of contraception.

Why do you assume that an adolescent could afford $50? Where would they get that money, particularly if they were low-income?

 

[Illinette2012]

I also agree that its very illogical that some states allow minors to get abortions without parental consent yet Plan B requires a prescription.

I think it's fair enough to draw the line at the age of consent. While I don't think that most teens will abuse the pill and use it multiple times, there's some that will despite the cost (a 2 pill version costs $39).

I've been a pharm tech for 4 years and I see people over the age of the consent that abuse taking plan B. Granted, I work on my college campus so we go through it like its candy. Sure, accidents happen sometimes but some people have yet to learn their lesson. Also, I say this not to judge or bash on any medicaid patients, but when someone calls the pharmacy and asks me to bill their medicaid for Plan B (which covers the costs entirely for them) & I look in their profile and see that this is the third time they've gotten it this month, it's obvious they haven't learned their lesson yet. There's patients that come in and ask for it and have no idea how it works, so I don't think the majority of 14 or 15 year olds would be able to fully understand how the pill works. To each, their own opinion. From my experiences, I've seen people abuse taking it that are well over 17 years old, so I don't think it's the best idea to sell it OTC to any young teenager.

 

[LifeTake2]

I think the problem is there is a big gap between *now* which is 17 or up can get OTC and what was proposed which was "any female capable of being pregnant"

Plan B doesn't do anything to prevent STD's, or abuse so to allow it to be OTC for 12-13yr olds is not a good idea in my opinion.

Now, honestly I think age of consent in the selling state would be a much better threshold for OTC. Then when it is determined you can chose to have sex, then you can chose how to deal with the results of such sex w/o needing a Dr.

 

[elblackwell]

Why do you assume that an adolescent could afford $50? Where would they get that money, particularly if they were low-income?

That may be an issue, but add a doctor's visit (if the person has no insurance or a copay) to that and it becomes an even greater barrier.

Teenagers are going to do whatever they want regardless of what we do or say. However, we can reduce the negative impact on their lives by making certain things available (Plan B, birth control pills- that can be obtained confidentially, handing out condoms, REAL sexual health education). Harm reduction strategies in general have been shown to be very effective, and Plan B availability can play a big role in reducing teenage pregnancy.

 

[Bartemius]

Either way Plan B One-Step is only going to have a very negligible effect on abortion/birth rates. Read some more articles on this.

Sure it's a political move. But if anything, Sebelius is saving a ton of American teenagers from being taken advantage of by Teva Pharmaceuticals.

 

[Bacchus]

Tangentially related, but does anyone else find it funny on the Walking Dead that Lori asked Glen to pick up some "pills" for her at the pharmacy downtown? 1) I doubt she asked for mifepristone 2) She took a whole lot levongestrol into her system that she subsequently expunged 3) I think the scene could have been more accurate.

Now, regarding the topic. I'm fairly progressive in my thinking, but I'm not surprised Sebelius made this decision at all and I agree with it. I've seen patients, OF AGE, that cannot care for themselves and we were going to put this in the hands of those much younger and trust them to make a responsible decision. Teenagers mature differently, but I think there was a little too much trust being passed around.