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Drug Agency Lowers Age For Next-Day Birth Control [W:297]

It's just best for any parent to assume their "sexually mature" child is either already "active", or going to be very soon.

Have any and all talks with them staring at puberty and don't let any opportunity pass to revisit such conversations with them.

If you wait until they come to you about a morning after pill - you've really fornicated up as a parent.

So what? No parent is perfect. Nobody is perfect. People "fornicate up" all the time. Does that mean you take the responsibility away from the (hopefully) more mature and wiser parents and place all control into the hands of the (more than likely) irresponsible and immature child? It's just kind of sick really IMO.
 
It's just best for any parent to assume their "sexually mature" child is either already "active", or going to be very soon.

Have any and all talks with them staring at puberty and don't let any opportunity pass to revisit such conversations with them.

If you wait until they come to you about a morning after pill - you've really fornicated up as a parent.

I just thought of something else interesting. How would you feel about minors of any age able to make their own decisions regarding cosmetic surgery?

Really, if we are going to be leaving so many important adult-like decision-making to children, why wouldn't we trust them to make good choices about breast implants, tummy tucks, etc.?

Are we going to allow children to make their OWN healthcare decisions too?
 
Don't you think the parents or some older responsible adult should be made aware so that they can have a talk with this child before giving her access to what should probably be a prescription drug without any kind of monitoring at all?

Sure in a perfect world.. but as we all know, in the real world that only happens in the movies when the father catches the son banging an apple pie... (guess the movie reference!).

My point is, most parents find it uncomfortable to talk to ones kids about this stuff and parents have an often out of wack view of what their children actually do. Children hide things from their parents.. always have and always will. Parents often overreact as we have seen many a time.... the "What, my 15 year old daughter is having sex with her 17 year old boyfriend... RAPE, call the police".. This is why we have sexual education in schools (well in Europe at least)... it works and children get the information they need instead of having to rely on embarrassed parents who thinks that their little angel does not think about sex. It seems that when people become parents they suddenly forget how it was to be a teenager.....
 
Okay, yeah, there is a big difference between taking a pill and having an operation, but still, where does it end? Since we've deemed that children are capable of making a decision like this all on their own without any adult supervision, where will the line be drawn?
 
Sure in a perfect world.. but as we all know, in the real world that only happens in the movies when the father catches the son banging an apple pie... (guess the movie reference!).

American Pie! :lol:

My point is, most parents find it uncomfortable to talk to ones kids about this stuff and parents have an often out of wack view of what their children actually do. Children hide things from their parents.. always have and always will. Parents often overreact as we have seen many a time.... the "What, my 15 year old daughter is having sex with her 17 year old boyfriend... RAPE, call the police".. This is why we have sexual education in schools (well in Europe at least)... it works and children get the information they need instead of having to rely on embarrassed parents who thinks that their little angel does not think about sex. It seems that when people become parents they suddenly forget how it was to be a teenager.....

Well, just to straighten you out. Parents do NOT forget what it was like to be a teen. They remember ALL TOO WELL, and that is why they freak out! :lamo That's not too hard to grasp, is it?

I completely agree with sex ed and birth control, etc. I do not agree with letting children make their own reproductive choices. I just don't see them as being responsible enough. That is why children are still under the control of their parents.

Another important point to consider is that parents ARE going to be responsible (financially and otherwise) if a child gets impregnated, or if anything else happens to that child. For that reason alone, the parents have a right to know if their child/children are sexually active, regardless of whether or not they had the "talk."
 
Interesting indeed. Hopefully it's well tested, the FDA isn't always the most thorough on testing though.

You really think that the FDA does testing? Really?
 
It's just kind of sick really IMO.

I think you're living in a fantasy world.

1) kids have sex
2) kids won't tell parents they're having sex - most at all costs won't tell
3) kids and parents make bad choices and bad decisions all the time
4) a kid taking the morning after pill without parents knowledge will prevent a kid from seeking abortion (with or without parents knowledge)
5) a kid taking the morning after pill without parents knowledge will prevent a kid from actually becoming pregnant
6) the availability of the morning after pill doesn't change what's happened leading up to needing it
7) none of the above changes the fact that kids have sex, are going to have sex, and nothing's going to change that
8) so preventing a teenage pregnancy and/or teenage abortion is a win-win in my book
 
Nothing but the further sexualization of our children.

Then there's the bill in CA that would allow cross-dressing student to pick which bathroom to use or which sports team to try out for.

It's PROGRESSIVE ya know.
 
I would rather someone have access to the pill rather than not get one and have an unwanted baby. I think it makes sense.
 
Nothing but the further sexualization of our children.

So what's your solution to combating teenage pregnancy? Gonna stick to that whole "abstinence" thing that seems to work so well?
 
You really think that the FDA does testing? Really?

Sometimes. But I also think they are subject to political pressures which often times subvert the process. The FDA should probably just be part of NIST or some other research lab and should do little to listen to people or politicians.
 
So what's your solution to combating teenage pregnancy? Gonna stick to that whole "abstinence" thing that seems to work so well?

Chastity belts, staples, threat of a good ass whoopin?? We raised two daughters that had some sense. [least in that dept]

Today's pop culture has made the problem super worse with their lack of concern (the government will support us), lack of parenting (no father in the home), some sick fascination with being the first in your 8th grade class to have a baby, etc....

These are the things that need to change, not access to drugs.
 
First: Don't 15 year olds have to get parent permission to get aspirin from their schools?
Second: In this country15 year olds don't carry any identification stating their age-so how do they prove it?
Third: What moral distinction dictated the age of 15, why not 11?
 
First: Don't 15 year olds have to get parent permission to get aspirin from their schools?
Second: In this country15 year olds don't carry any identification stating their age-so how do they prove it?
Third: What moral distinction dictated the age of 15, why not 11?

Good questions.
 
If a 15 year old even has the wisdom to know she should seek the morning after pill, then she would spare her parents a lot of agony by quietly dealing with. If she needs an abortion then she would definitely need parental permission, and that's when the can of worms really gets opened, whether her parents say yes or not.

Or she will be missing a 'learning moment' that could have come from her parents knowing about it. And from what I understand, there are some states where even for an abortion at that age, parental permission is not needed...
 
Sometimes. But I also think they are subject to political pressures which often times subvert the process. The FDA should probably just be part of NIST or some other research lab and should do little to listen to people or politicians.

You live in NJ, one of the biggest states for pharmaceutical companies. There is a really good chance that one of your neighbors works for one. The FDA does not do any testing, the review the documentation and results from research, clinical studies, etc. of the submitting company and the documentation is massive. The FDA is not another organization like Good Housekeeping, Underwriters Laboratories or Consumers Union.
 
The FDA can rule that it is safe for 15 year olds to have the drug but not that it can be administered without parental approval which is a State law issue.
 
I have a huge problem with this. The problem I have is not having plan B available if women want it, but the government's circumventing of parental control here. IMHO, this is wrong.
 
Like it or not 15 year olds are sexual active.. they always have been and they always will be. Rather have them protected than not right?

Hmmm... protected my not be the right phrase here. The existence of the morning after pill all but ensures that young girls will be less likely to have protected sex on the assumption they can fix it later.
 
Nothing but the further sexualization of our children.

Then there's the bill in CA that would allow cross-dressing student to pick which bathroom to use or which sports team to try out for.

It's PROGRESSIVE ya know.

Your children are already sexualized. Access to this pill doesn't change that in any way. Nobody is going to go "Oh, I can get morning after pills? Forget abstinence, I'm totally having sex now!"

Teenagers have sex. They always have and always will. You can accept that and try to educate and protect them, or let them get pregnant or sick.

Hmmm... protected my not be the right phrase here. The existence of the morning after pill all but ensures that young girls will be less likely to have protected sex on the assumption they can fix it later.

Nobody is going to deliberately forgo using protection just because the morning after pill exists. A teenager actually thinking about protection beforehand is going to get real protection. The trouble is that they usually don't think about it beforehand. The statistical reality is that the best way to reduce teen pregnancy and disease is comprehensive sexual education and easy access to protection. Not only do abstinence-only programs not work, they actively make things worse.
 
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I have a huge problem with this. The problem I have is not having plan B available if women want it, but the government's circumventing of parental control here. IMHO, this is wrong.

Should children need parental permission to buy a soda? Tylenol? Condoms? Is your "huge problem" because of an emotional aversion to the idea that teenagers have sex, or is there some medical reasoning behind your treating condoms and morning after pills differently?
 
American Pie! :lol:

Correct!

Well, just to straighten you out. Parents do NOT forget what it was like to be a teen. They remember ALL TOO WELL, and that is why they freak out! :lamo That's not too hard to grasp, is it?

And that proves that parents are kids who forgot how to be kids. Being allowed to be a teenager, to make mistakes and get guided as much as it is possible.. is how we mold our youth. Parents have an unrealistic memory of how it is to be a teenager.

I completely agree with sex ed and birth control, etc. I do not agree with letting children make their own reproductive choices. I just don't see them as being responsible enough. That is why children are still under the control of their parents.

Yes and rules are different depending on the country. Now in the US they are still behind the times so to say compared to some European countries.. and European countries tend to have more mature teens, and teens that dont go out and have unprotected sex and get pregnant. In most European countries, they not only are taught about the birds and bees at a young age, but also given access to contraception and medical aid at a young age... without parents knowledge. At age 15 in many countries, teenagers are pretty much legally independent when it comes to finances and their own bodies. They of course cant sign a contract before they are 18 or vote or drive, but they can drink, have sex, and spend and earn their own money.

Another important point to consider is that parents ARE going to be responsible (financially and otherwise) if a child gets impregnated, or if anything else happens to that child. For that reason alone, the parents have a right to know if their child/children are sexually active, regardless of whether or not they had the "talk."

That may be, but you know just as I do.. telling a teenager that they are not allowed to do X.. will push them to do X.... regardless what X is. Rebellion is part of growing up and when parents come and say "you are not to see that boy" to their teenage girl.. guess what she will do?
 

I knew that! :)



And that proves that parents are kids who forgot how to be kids. Being allowed to be a teenager, to make mistakes and get guided as much as it is possible.. is how we mold our youth. Parents have an unrealistic memory of how it is to be a teenager.

But if they're going behind a parent's back and doing things without their knowledge, how can a parent guide them. How would a parent even know if the child has made a mistake unless the child feels as if they have to go to the parent or another responsible adult that they trust for help?


Yes and rules are different depending on the country. Now in the US they are still behind the times so to say compared to some European countries.. and European countries tend to have more mature teens, and teens that dont go out and have unprotected sex and get pregnant. In most European countries, they not only are taught about the birds and bees at a young age, but also given access to contraception and medical aid at a young age... without parents knowledge. At age 15 in many countries, teenagers are pretty much legally independent when it comes to finances and their own bodies. They of course cant sign a contract before they are 18 or vote or drive, but they can drink, have sex, and spend and earn their own money.

I'm sorry, but having sex doesn't make one an "adult." Anyone can have sex, ANY-ONE. Teens here can also drive and give consent (depending upon their age and the state they reside in, sometimes it depends upon parental consent as well). They can't drink until they are 21 here, and that is a GOOD law. Imagine 16 year old children drinking and driving?

Also, teens here are also allowed to work and make their own money and handle their own finances as long as they apply for the proper paperwork. I believe the age is 15 when they can legally start working with what we call "working papers."



That may be, but you know just as I do.. telling a teenager that they are not allowed to do X.. will push them to do X.... regardless what X is. Rebellion is part of growing up and when parents come and say "you are not to see that boy" to their teenage girl.. guess what she will do?

Oops! I almost missed this one! You don't have to threaten your child when speaking with them about things. There are other ways in which parents can approach and talk with their teens.
 
There are other ways in which parents can approach and talk with their teens.

Isn't that the issue though? You're expecting parents to actually parent.

Since obviously most don't know how, or don't care to... the alternative is...
 
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