Pharmacies are deterring teens from Plan B by using incorrect information.
We’re calling them out on this episode of InsidersHealth News.
A study by Dr. Tracy Wilkenson of The Boston Medical Center at Boston University school
of medicine has shown exactly what he feared: that the real world availability of Plan B
and other emergency contraception drugs is not holding up like it should.
In fact, in turns out that almost 20% of 17 year olds were told by pharmacies that they
couldn’t get the medication at all.
This study, performed in 5 major U.S. cities, gathered data by calling pharmacies to inquire
about Plan B, first as a 17 year old woman and then as her doctor.
The disparity between the answers they got was staggering.
For those 20% of women that were told it was unavailable, only 3% of the doctors were given
the same information.
Even worse, the teen caller would then ask if there was an age rule and the pharmacy
employees answered incorrectly 43% of the time.
While it is a controversial topic, the law is on the side of those young women.
Seventeen and older can purchase the product without a prescription.
The biggest concern is that such a young age hearing “no” from anyone will act as a
permanent deterrent.
The likelihood of a 17 year old teen canvassing pharmacies across the area for Plan B is extremely
low, so accurate and helpful information is a must.
And regardless of the issues that contraception deals with, pharmacists need to be up to speed
with the correct information.
Also, proponents of the over-the-counter morning-after pill say that using this emergency contraception
could prevent HALF of all unplanned teen pregnancies in the U.S., a large number considering the
nearly 750,000 girls ages 15-19 that become pregnant.
And of those hundreds of thousands of pregnancies about 85% are unplanned.
Wilkenson hopes that this study will instigate some sort of change across the board and bring
in new policies because as long as the law allows an over-the-counter choice for these
young women, the pharmacies should create a helpful and trusting environment.
But you know us!
We want to hear what you think about the issue.
Agree?
Disagree?
Agree to disagree?
I welcome you to comment below.
I know I always tell you to think “outside the box” but the comment box doesn’t count.