Council approves pass-through funding for teen birth control

The City Council voted yesterday to continue a teen pregnancy prevention program that provides Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC), specifically, intrauterine devices (IUDs), through the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District.

While many professional organizations recommend (IUD) use in adolescents, data on performance of currently available devices in US teens are scant. The city is promoting these devices but how much do they know about long term effects and risks?

The promotion and distribution of IUDs is contrary to logic and to the City’s handling of teen alcohol or substance use/abuse or almost any other unhealthy behavior including texting & driving. The funds need to be re-directed to address the cause of pregnancy, i.e. sex outside of marriage, to change behaviors towards chastity, sports and healthy choices. The City has no business being in drug distribution that harms people, in this case, young women and conceived babies.

The program was set to expire at the end of this year, but the Texas Health and Human Services Commission has requested an extension that would continue the program until Sept. 30, 2019, according to city documents.

The item was set for a quick, rubber-stamp approval, but Councilman Greg Brockhouse requested that it be debated. He suggested that the city should reprogram the $325,000 that is set aside to provide teenagers with IUDs.

SAFA was represented at the meeting by Patrick Von Dohlen. Mr. Von Dohlen told the council that the program goes against the city’s recently adopted charter of compassion because of the physical and mental risks and side effects the contraceptive devices will have on the girls.

Read Mr. Von Dohlen’s full statement here.