Plan B in college campus vending machines...

[one_voice]

Yay or nay? I'm good with it...

Like any other election year, the topic of women's health has received a lot of attention. Between the flip-flopping policies of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Obama Administration — both made "firm" decisions related to women's healthcare, only to reverse or alter their proposed plans — and the constant campaigning of presidential candidates, topics like abortion and birth control have been at the forefront of media attention.

Because of the political focus on these topics, there is a heavy media focus on anything related to women's health, including an isolated vending machine in Shippensburg, Penn.

Located in the Shippensburg University Health Center, this vending machine serves up the usual fair of condoms, cough drops and decongestants, along with an unusual item: Plan B, commonly known as the "morning-after pill."

Traditionally held behind pharmacy counters, Plan B is available to anyone 17 and older, and can prevent pregnancy if taken soon after sexual intercourse. It is sometimes labeled by religious or conservative individuals as an abortion drug, even though it is not guaranteed to take away the chance of pregnancy.

Given the political climate of our nation, it is not surprising this made major headlines. I cannot help but feel news outlets are a little late. The decision to put Plan B in the vending machine was made two years ago, after a student survey revealed 85 percent of respondents said they would like Plan B made available to them. Although the drug is available in nearby drugstores, having it in a secluded vending machine in the health center takes away some of the stigma associated with the pill.

*snip*

http://www.thestylus.net/plan-b-vending-machine-raises-concerns-1.2779607#.Tzra97S_jpg

[kestrel91316]

1. If they can sell condoms in vending machines then they can

damned well sell Plan B in them. More power to them!

[TheWraith]

2. Vending machines? No. It should be handed out by a human.

Primarily because anyone using it regularly should be warned that there are some nasty potential health side-effects to repeated use.

[silverweb]

3. I have only one concern with it.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]There have been no long-term studies (that I'm aware of) regarding possible consequences of the frequent use of Plan B, so it would make sense that there should be some kind of physician monitoring in place for women who have used it more than once or twice. This is, after all, a heavy-duty dose of hormones and repeated dosing could cause problems.

Planned Parenthood gives it away for free, but also keeps track of the patient's usage and monitors any side effects.

[Grey]

4. Yay!