Teenage Pregnancy vs Teenage Drug Abuse: Different Strategies

[Wndrtch]

There was a minor story in the local Rags up here in Boston, about two medical officials with the Gloucester High School’s health center. They resigned because approval was not forthcomming to adopt a "confidential" contraceptive pass-out policy for hi-schoolers.

Two fed-up medical officials have quit Gloucester High School’s health center amid a teen pregnancy “crisis” in a fight over handing out condoms and birth-control pills.

Medical Director Dr. Brian Orr and chief nurse practitioner Kim Daly resigned in outrage after their recommendation to confidentially give contraceptives to students was rejected by Addison Gilbert Hospital, which administers state funding for the school clinic.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view/2008_05_27_Gloucester_birth_control_flap_prompts_r esignations/srvc=home&position=4

The idea of birth control being handed out to minors, without parental consent, made me think about the differences between how we are dealing with teenage pregnancy vs how we are dealing with teenage drug abuse. I thought it was interesting that "we" are doing the exact opposite in dealing with these two problems.

Teenage Pregnancy - With teenage pregnancy, the "political-push" is to pass out birth control without parental consent, or push abortion on demand without parental consent.

Teenage Drug Abuse - With teenage drug abuse, the "political-push" is to encourage parents to become more involved in their children's activities and goings-on. "Parents. The Anti-Drug" ( http://www.theantidrug.com/ )

So, in the first case, the idea is to isolate parents from the going-ons of thier children, and the second encourages more involvement and visibility from the parents.

Which do you think is the better approach?

[Alonzo]

Wnd, if you were familiar with the issue you'd realize that the goal is not to isolate parents, in fact they want the kids to talk to parents, but they know that requiring such a thing would reduce the amount of kids taking birth control but not necessarily having sex.

With drugs the goal is to get kids not to do them. So if kids are having sex then you want them to have birth control for their own protection, their partners, and to prevent transmission of diseases throughout society. And since most are having sex without parental knowledge, you don'y want to do something that will result in continued sex but no birth control, which is what would happen with parental notification.

With drugs the goal is prevention, under no circumstances should they be taking them.

You're argument only makes sense if birth control is something you don't want kids to have. Since they're already having sex, you want to make sure those kids are safe.

[Wndrtch]

Wnd, if you were familiar with the issue you'd realize that the goal is not to isolate parents, in fact they want the kids to talk to parents, but they know that requiring such a thing would reduce the amount of kids taking birth control but not necessarily having sex.

With drugs the goal is to get kids not to do them. So if kids are having sex then you want them to have birth control for their own protection, their partners, and to prevent transmission of diseases throughout society. And since most are having sex without parental knowledge, you don'y want to do something that will result in continued sex but no birth control, which is what would happen with parental notification.

With drugs the goal is prevention, under no circumstances should they be taking them.

You're argument only makes sense if birth control is something you don't want kids to have. Since they're already having sex, you want to make sure those kids are safe.

So, you WANT kids to have sex? That's OK for you?

I don't want my CHILDREN to have sex, and I don't want them to take drugs. Yet the "Intellegensia" doesn't think I have a right to know if my kid is engaging in sex. I'm sure I would get a call if they found a bag of pot in their locker.

[Alonzo]

wnd, you knowing whether kids are having sex won't change whether they do in many cases. What requiring such notification will do is ensure that kids either steal the contraception or simply won't use it. How stupid do you think they are to go to a place for contraception if they know their parents will find out, especially when they don't want them to?

[Wndrtch]

wnd, you knowing whether kids are having sex won't change whether they do in many cases.

How is that any different than drug abuse?

What requiring such notification will do is ensure that kids either steal the contraception or simply won't use it. How stupid do you think they are to go to a place for contraception if they know their parents will find out, especially when they don't want them to?

I'm not sure, but as a parent, I would like to know that the school system my kid is in, is not working against MY efforts to keep track of their activity.

With this issue, the school system has turned into that guy that buys beer for minors at the packy. It's a crime in most states to buy alcohol for minors, even IF they are going to do it anyways.

[Alonzo]

How is that any different than drug abuse?

Do drug treatment facilities call the police on anyone who shows up at their door? In fact many successful ones provide both treatment and items to reduce the risk of harm. A few months ago I attended a conference targeting homeless alcohol and drug addicts. In addition to providing counseling and access to treatment facilities, they also provided clean needles and other things. Your solution is essentially for them to call the police when needles are requested, and what addict would go to them if that were the case? They'd remain completely underground, a greater danger to themselves, society, and beyond reach.

I'm not sure, but as a parent, I would like to know that the school system my kid is in, is not working against MY efforts to keep track of their activity.

With this issue, the school system has turned into that guy that buys beer for minors at the packy. It's a crime in most states to buy alcohol for minors, even IF they are going to do it anyways.

If there is any analogy to drinking, it's that the school gave information on how to hire a taxi to get home after a night of drinking, instead of having the kids drive themselves home.

You're suggesting the school is setting up sex between kids. They're going to have sex, and they have been having sex, regardless of the contraception policy. Your desire to know what your kids are doing, while obviously a good thing, doesn't override the society wide risks of unprotected sex and teenage pregnancy. That's what social and school policy needs to deal with. Your desire for knowledge does not change the harm that children may cause, and diseases these sexual encounters may help spread.

[Wndrtch]

Do drug treatment facilities call the police on anyone who shows up at their door? In fact many successful ones provide both treatment and items to reduce the risk of harm. A few months ago I attended a conference targeting homeless alcohol and drug addicts. In addition to providing counseling and access to treatment facilities, they also provided clean needles and other things. Your solution is essentially for them to call the police when needles are requested, and what addict would go to them if that were the case? They'd remain completely underground, a greater danger to themselves, society, and beyond reach.



If there is any analogy to drinking, it's that the school gave information on how to hire a taxi to get home after a night of drinking, instead of having the kids drive themselves home.

You're suggesting the school is setting up sex between kids. They're going to have sex, and they have been having sex, regardless of the contraception policy. Your desire to know what your kids are doing, while obviously a good thing, doesn't override the society wide risks of unprotected sex and teenage pregnancy. That's what social and school policy needs to deal with. Your desire for knowledge does not change the harm that children may cause, and diseases these sexual encounters may help spread.

The school is providing the product that enables the act. They are contributing to the diliquency of minors, and ignoring parental rights.

If children are going to have sex anyways, then why punish adults that want to have sex with minors? So long as the pedophile uses contraceptives, then everything should be fine, according to your logic here. So long as the sex between child/adult is consentual and they use contraceptives, then there is no crime?

[Alonzo]

The school is providing the product that enables the act. They are contributing to the diliquency of minors, and ignoring parental rights.

So children not having contraception, and having sex, is better than having contraception, and having sex? Considering the spread of STD's and the risk of pregnancy, I'm not sure you have a very good argument. And the argument that denying them these things will significantly reduce sex isn't really supported by evidence from the abstinence policy now advocated.

If children are going to have sex anyways, then why punish adults that want to have sex with minors? So long as the pedophile uses contraceptives, then everything should be fine, according to your logic here. So long as the sex between child/adult is consentual and they use contraceptives, then there is no crime?

Are you going to advocate locking up 15 year old jimmy for having sex with 15 year old kate?

[Wndrtch]

So children not having contraception, and having sex, is better than having contraception, and having sex? Considering the spread of STD's and the risk of pregnancy, I'm not sure you have a very good argument. And the argument that denying them these things will significantly reduce sex isn't really supported by evidence from the abstinence policy now advocated.

If CHILDREN are not going to listen to adults about not having sex as minors, then what makes you think they will listen to you about using contraceptives?

I don't know about you, but I've always enjoyed "bare-back" much more than "wrapped". :evil:

Are you going to advocate locking up 15 year old jimmy for having sex with 15 year old kate?

How about an 18 yr/old Jimmy, having sex with a 15yr/old Kate?

...22 yr/old Jimmy, having sex with a 15yr/old Kate?

...25 yr/old Jimmy, having sex with a 15yr/old Kate?

...27 yr/old Jimmy, having sex with a 15yr/old Kate?

...33 yr/old Jimmy, having sex with a 15yr/old Kate?

...38 yr/old Jimmy, having sex with a 15yr/old Kate?

...45 yr/old Jimmy, having sex with a 15yr/old Kate?

...55 yr/old Jimmy, having sex with a 15yr/old Kate?

If you are going to remove parental oversight/judgement, and rely soley on the child's judgement, then how can you imprison anybody of any age for having sex with that minor as long as the sex was concentual? "Jimmy" is going to jail, because he wronged Kate's dad, not Kate. Children are considered "property" of the parents, until they come of legal age and are assigned the responsibility of adulthood.

Even a doctor has the get my permission, to work on my kids. If that doctor screws-up, it's me taking him to court, not my child.