Isle of Wight pill scheme will damage teenagers

Parents are being sidelined and teens will be left vulnerable to STIs following the launch of a divisive contraception scheme for teens on the Isle of Wight, a national Christian group says.

Mike Judge of The Christian Institute said: “Cutting parents out of the equation is not the answer. Studies show that children whose parents are involved in their lives are less likely to engage in premature sexual activity.

“Doling out contraceptive pills like sweeties will do nothing to protect girls from the soaring STI rate, and sterilising girls will only help boys put more pressure on them for sex.

“This scheme sends out a truly depressing message of low expectations to our teenage girls, rather than inspiring them to delay sex until they are at least older.”

Under the plan, girls as young as 13 are to be given a month’s supply of contraceptive pills without being referred to a doctor or informing their parents.

The programme will target girls who approach a participating pharmacy seeking a morning-after pill, indicating that they are already sexually active.

The scheme aims to reduce the island’s teenage pregnancy rate but critics say the ‘ever-more-contraception’ approach does not work.

Professor David Paton of Nottingham University has examined the evidence and concluded that easier access to contraception may lead to a false sense of security, increasing risk-taking behaviour amongst young people.