Plan B is a fairly new one-step single dose emergency contraceptive pill used as a backup plan to prevent pregnancy. It can reduce the chance of pregnancy when taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex.
Recently, a law was passed in Utah that allows teenagers as young as 17 to recieve this pill directly. It was expected that there would be a significant decrease in the amount of unplanned pregnancies and abortions in the state of Utah. However, that has not been the case.
Teen births in Utah still account for 11 percent of all births in the state. With an average of over 5, 600 pregnancies in Utah a year, a full 11 percent of 
those resulting in abortion, it seems that Plan B is making little, if any, impact. Unfortunately, the largest impact may be the amount of people having unsafe sex that results in a potential pregnancy scare. In short, irresponsibility.
On the plus side, there has been a slight decrease in abortions since Plan B was made legal. Between 2000-2004 there were 16, 668 abortions performed in Utah. According to the Utah State Health Department’s most recent statistics there were 3, 516 abortions performed in 2007. It’s alarming to think what might have happened to our state if the option was not available.
However, not everyone sees Plan B as a positive. There is much concern about Plan B taking away accountability and creating a feeling of permisiveness when it comes to sex. 
“The morning after pill eliminates common sense,” one man said. “It makes it seem that much easier to decide to have unsafe sex. If all she has to do after is take a pill and she looks fine and acts fine and you don’t have to hold her hand 
or anything, then why not?”
Clearly this is a controversial issue, and something each person must decide on their own. One thing we do know, Plan B is not having the affect that the state hoped it would. On the contrary, it might be doing the opposite.
For more information on the Plan B click here.
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