Is It Really That Bad? The Controversy Over Contraception

So lately in the news there has been a lot of controversy over Shippensburg University making easy access to  Plan B emergency contraception pill, as easy as getting a can of soda. The students will be able to buy the pill out of a vending machine on the campus. Now I’m not talking about like in the lunch room but, the vending machines will be located in the Health Center on the campus. For those that don’t know what Plan B is, it is a pill that stops pregnancy from happening. It is not an abortion pill it will not work if you are already pregnant. You can take the pill up to 72 hours after having sex. Plan B is available at your local drug store behind the counter if you are 17yrs or older. A lot of people are really causing a fuss about this Plan B vending machine, mostly parents and teachers. People feel that by Plan B being so easyily accesible increases the odds of it being abused. This is a valid concern because it is not birth control and shouldn’t be used in that form. However,  it is no different from you being able to buy Tylenol or Advil in a vending machine. Now I personally don’t see what the problem is. We are talking about grown adults in college not high school kids and if we can all be honest college kids are having sex and things do happen. So why shouldn’t they have options in case of emergency?  If Plan B is already available with out a prescription then I don’t see it truly being such a big deal with it being available in a vending machine. Eighty-Five percent of the student body agreed with the vending machines being on campus.  Now everyone is entitled to there own opinion but do remember that Plan B will not protect you from STD’s or HIV. So you need to still use a condom each and every time you have sex.

Written by Keisha Duncan