The Pill, now at a Quebec High School near you

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I saw on the news tonight, that the Quebec provincial government has initiated a program to help curb the rising teen pregnancy problem in their province.

Currently according to statistics, the national undesired pregnancy rate in Canada is 38.7 in 1000 (excluding Quebec) and in Quebec alone it's 39.7 in 1000.

So to combat this problem the provincial government has given license to provincial school nurses to give prescriptions of the pill to teenage girls. The prescriptions would be provided by a doctor in limited supply to the schools.

Under the program nurses would provide the girls with a 3 month supply of the pill. If they wanted to continue it they would then have to see the doctor to have it renewed and tests done to ensure everything was okay.

So what does everyone else here think of the idea? Is it good, bad and why? While I say it is good to help prevent undesired pregnancy it's no replacement for proper education. The pill does not prevent STI's or AIDS, nor does it educate children about the problem.

On the other hand it does make a tool accessible to them should they need it. Come on, kids will have sex whether we want them to or not, they'll find a way. At least this way they can help reduce the risk of pregnancy.

All in all I'm 50/50. Yes it is good, but it's no substitute for education. What do you think?

 

Teens shouldn't need pills unless it's to make their menstrual cycle regular. Surely education is crucial as this will tackle the problem not the symptom. Having parents who are open to talk about sex and stress the importance of having sex only when you are ready to face the consequences would be good as well. If the parents believe that you should be married first they must impress this value on their children. In any case, the parents should be the first source of knowledge about sex, not a friend, a school or your local pornographic magazine.

 

Agreed, and I do not think they are using this as a substitute for education. Canada's educational system isn't that much different than the U.S. system, and I know all middle school and high school offer sex education. I think that overall it is a good idea to have this available to them, because some students will still decide to have sex even after the education. I'd also like to think that the risk of acquiring an STD from another high school student is less than what it would be in the general population (simply on the basis that they have had fewer partners at that point in their lives).

I will also agree with BTA that I find it strange that a school nurse can give out prescription medication. That clearly doesn't happen in the U.S. However, with socialized, government run health care, they may be able to do that in Canada. Is it only birth control, or is it other medication? For example, if a student comes down with the flu, can they give you a prescription for penecillin?

 

It's only birth control in one province and the prescriptions themselves come from doctors with guidlines on what amount for age, weight etc. Some kids will only use it for their menstrual cycle, but many are too embarrassed to ask their parents to take them to the doctor. Until they are 14 years of age all medical info is shared with the parents. So this would give those who want info and maybe try to see if it regulates things a try wihtout the embarrassment.

 

The pill screws up the organism and it will never make the menstrual cycle natural, even if it looks more regular. It can affect the fertility of the woman and the health of the future children.

Plus, teach them abstinence. Giving teens pills is like inventing medications to prevent you from getting fat when you overeat or from getting drunk when you drink alcohol.

To hell with the pill, just be responsible and find the right man, and I repeat: the right one, and marry him and have sex when you're both ready to bring up children. There so many things you can do with your clothes on, even with people of the opposite sex.