Hmmm. Gut instinct says, yes a prescription should be required if you are under 17 because of the high dosage of hormones and my fear that it would be used as a regular birth control method. (From what I understand the "period" from using Plan B is an all out mother-----r and a half, so maybe not? I don't know?) I'm also trying to think of the number of teenagers I knew in high school who could come up with $70 on a whim.


That's my initial reaction. I'm interested in the other responses though. I think in the end, availability isn't the issue. It's the irresponsible behavior that leads to the need for the pill in the first place that is the issue. This is specific to teenagers, not adults who simply had an OOOPS moment.

I've read so many texts on textsfromlastnight.com about chicks hooking up with a frat boy or two and not using condoms on the basis they had Plan B waiting in the wings when they got home. The STD issue right there makes my head explode. :/

I would love to see this made over the counter for all ages. Teenage girls don't need extra hurdles to dealing with an unwanted pregnancy. Requiring a prescription isn't to protect them, its to force them to talk to their parents. Some parents (mine, for example) would not have been helpful in that situation.

My only concern? Have they done the proper testing on how this would effect the hormones and everything in a young, still-growing body? If that's all be safe and cleared, I'm all for it. I'm a bit concerned about people abusing it, but college students would be just as likely to abuse it, so I can't say there's much of a difference.

I think Plan B should be available over the counter for all ages, too. And if someone wants to use it as regular birth control, that's their business, not mine. It's their body.

I think an ideal situation would involve some pharmacist counseling. I don't know if they person would need to request Plan B at the pharmacy counter or if you can just pick it up and pay for it with an ID or something. Pharmacist counseling can be very, very helpful for people to help them understand what the medication does, its side effects, and things to consider when taking the medication. I speak from experience, and appreciate the time that pharmacists take to counsel patients. I know at a lot of pharmacies there may not be "enough time" for this, but I think it could really help Plan B users to be more educated about their drug choices.

I am on the fence with this one.

Ok, a new concern. If it's available for all ages OTC, will this make it easier for sexual predators to molest children in their home without protection? I mean we're all worried about predators on the internet, but what about the father who rapes his daughters in the middle of the night and doesn't want a baby around to prove his crime?

In response to the questions about safety, for a product to be classified as OTC, it has to meet safety standards of the intended target population, the condition it is treating must not require a physicians diagnosis to treat, and the instructions for use of the drug has to be able to be understood by the layperson.

OTC also does not necessarily mean that anyone can have easy access, it merely means you don't need a prescription. It can still be behind the pharmacy counter and my guess is it will. The cost and fear of people being seen purchasing it will make it a prime target for shoplifting if it were stocked on shelves.

I can definitely see this going badly with as many states that still practice abstinence only sex education. There are a lot, and I mean A LOT, of ignorant young girls who freak out that they might be pregnant in situations where it's damn near impossible that they are. Combine that ignorance about the basics of sex with the fear that the parents she can't talk to about sex might find out that she's having sex (and might become pregnant without an emergency contraceptive), and you have got a recipe for disaster.