Contraceptives to Minors

The Passing Out of Contraceptives to Minors

This specific controversial issue does not only surround the idea of handing out contraceptives in public schools but focuses on whether the school board should require parental consent to do so. Many parents protested the idea of handing out condoms without their involvement at all. Once the issue was litigated, parents argued that if they are not mandatorily involved in the distribution of contraceptives, it is a violation of constitutionally protected parental rights. These cases were further put on hold and remain a contested issue. A wider debate has come across that parental involvement is a violation of a minor's right of privacy and the right to obtain contraception. It is argued that maturity and responsibility should be recognized of minors who look to obtain contraceptives. Parental consent should not be required because with involving parents misses the point of attempting to protect minors with access to contraceptives in the first place. A child will refrain from asking for protection due to fear that their parents will know their secret. Therefore, without parental consent, teens will be protected emotionally, physically, and financially.

The United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the world. "In 2000, the total number of teen pregnancies in the United States was 821,810 (84 pregnancies per 1,000 people). Compare this with Canada whose total rate of teen pregnancies for 2000 was 38,600 (38 pregnancies per 1,000 people)" (Statistics on Teen Pregnancy). Teen pregnancy becomes a problem because teen mothers are more likely not to finish high school or college and 80% end up welfare. Not only does the mother suffer with disadvantages in life but the child unfortunately does as well. They most likely are to follow this cycle in their life as they grow up. This statistic needs to reduce in order to fulfill a more successful society. Estimated by many "baby budgets" found on the internet, the cost of a baby is generally around $40,000 per year. This is far too much for a teenage mother to support at such a young age, let alone financially

The passing out of contraceptives in public schools would further reduce the rising statistics of STD's. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 19 million STD infections occur every year and 50% of these occur in teenagers. Many teens are more sexually active in today's society compared to the past. "About 2/3 of seniors in high school have had sex. The American Social Health Association reports that less than half of teenagers in the U.S. have had discussions about sexual health and STDs during health visits and in schools"(Sexually Transmitted Disease). This leads to an incident of a 'Pregnancy Pact' in Gloucester Massachusetts, 2008. 17 young ladies, all under the age of 16, became pregnant around the same time. It all started