Letter: FDA’s responsibility is to the people first

Monday, Aug. 28, 2006 | 7:22 a.m.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an emergency contraceptive, Plan B, but in a compromise it will permit over-the-counter sales only for women who are 18 and older.

The FDA shouldn't have played politics. Nevada's teenage girls deserve options. As someone who has been an intern with Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, I know that women under 18 are the ones most benefited by over-the-counter access to an emergency contraceptive. Making it harder for teens to avoid unintended pregnancies is a bad decision, furthering our outrageous teen pregnancy rate.

In 2000, Nevada had the fourth highest teenage pregnancy rate in the nation; through sex education and access to birth control, it has dropped to 12th.

Making easy and timely access to an emergency contraceptive is important. Minors currently have access to other contraceptive methods such as condoms and spermicides. The government should not be catering to political conservatives and leaving teens in the dark because, without Plan B, teens will search for a Plan C.

Nicole Donald, Reno