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The Daily OrangeEditorial | College students need affordable birth control
By
Posted: 4/2/07, 12:50 AM EST Section: Opinion
Condoms aren't an adequate substitute for the pill. Out of every 100 women whose partners use condoms, 15 will become pregnant within a year, but only eight out of every 100 women using oral contraceptives will become pregnant in that time, according to Planned Parenthood.
The accessibility of the contraceptives also poses a large problem. Although Planned Parenthood is close to Syracuse University's campus, students at other colleges don't have the luxury of a nearby alternative to their university pharmacy. Affordable birth control needs to be available within walking distance of every college.
College students are going to have sex regardless of the availability of oral contraceptives, so the government should do its best to protect their interests and promote cheap birth control. It gives students the best chance to finish their education, rather than have their studies derailed by an unplanned pregnancy. The government should either resume offering the rebates that give students lower birth control prices, or pursue another way to cut the cost of the medication.
Universities should also consider covering at least part of the price increase. SU has enough oral contraceptives stockpiled to last the remainder of the semester, but prices will likely jump in the fall. Administrators should plan on subsidizing birth control in order to keep it affordable.
If the price of birth control remains high, more students will be parents, or fewer students will be able to pay for their needs. Neither circumstance builds a healthy campus environment. Either the government or universities must step up and meet the need for cheap birth control.
The accessibility of the contraceptives also poses a large problem. Although Planned Parenthood is close to Syracuse University's campus, students at other colleges don't have the luxury of a nearby alternative to their university pharmacy. Affordable birth control needs to be available within walking distance of every college.
College students are going to have sex regardless of the availability of oral contraceptives, so the government should do its best to protect their interests and promote cheap birth control. It gives students the best chance to finish their education, rather than have their studies derailed by an unplanned pregnancy. The government should either resume offering the rebates that give students lower birth control prices, or pursue another way to cut the cost of the medication.
Universities should also consider covering at least part of the price increase. SU has enough oral contraceptives stockpiled to last the remainder of the semester, but prices will likely jump in the fall. Administrators should plan on subsidizing birth control in order to keep it affordable.
If the price of birth control remains high, more students will be parents, or fewer students will be able to pay for their needs. Neither circumstance builds a healthy campus environment. Either the government or universities must step up and meet the need for cheap birth control.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
karl
posted 4/02/07 @ 8:34 PM EST
College students HAVE affordable birth control. Its called a condom. $5 for 3. Get over it.
Erin
posted 4/03/07 @ 10:57 PM EST
Perhaps this higher cost of BCPs will cause students to rethink their behavior; to realize the reality of the 'risks' of sex: PREGNANCY being one of them, not to mention STDs. (Continued…)
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