Issue: Should School-Based Clinics Be Allowed to Dispense Norplant Contraceptives to Teen-Agers?

* Michael Godfrey

Coordinator of School-Based Health Clinic Programs for the L.A. Unified District Norplant should be made available for students who have decided not to be abstinent as another contraceptive option. The district’s school-based health clinics provide comprehensive health services to students who present a verified parent-consent form. Of the reproductive health services offered, Norplant is one contraceptive option available at San Fernando High School. Adolescents can make a decision with regard to contraceptive methods instead of having to make a more traumatic decision if they choose not to (use contraceptives) or practice safer sex. Of course, the safest option for students during adolescence is abstinence.

* Dr. Joan Babbott

Executive director, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles It would be highly desirable to have Norplant, which is a long-term and very good, reversible contraceptive, available to students in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Basically, it is not a good thing for children to be having children. We know that teen-age girls and boys are sexually active. And the whole argument that if you give kids contraception they are going to be promiscuous is absolutely fallacious.

* Cherice Williams

Senior, Washington Preparatory High School The Norplant birth control device should be distributed at inner-city high schools. However, it should only be given to those with a strong health history and in conjunction with condoms.

* Danniell Yvette Kyle

Senior, Washington Preparatory High School I feel the Norplant should be available for teen-agers, just as well as adults, because the majority of pregnancy is in the teen-age group. Teen-agers don’t necessarily want to have children, but they want to have sex. And they use condoms but they don’t always work.