Should WE Pay??
 

Should we pay the cost of birth control or sterilization for drug addicts?

Article from ATLANTA Journal-Constitution:

http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/opi...n/1102/15.html

CNN Article:
Critics assail plan to give women addicts money to use birth control

The controversial billboard advertisment was torn down by protestors

October 23, 1999
Web posted at: 8:23 p.m. EDT (0023 GMT)

From Correspondent Rusty Dornin

OAKLAND, California (CNN) -- A California woman's campaign to offer drug-addicted women $200 if they get on long-term birth control has resulted in angry confrontations with critics who call the idea racist and anti-poor.

Barbara Harris, who has adopted four children born to a drug- addicted mother, funds the program with private donations. She says something must be done to stop the cycle of addiction and pregnancy that has resulted in 800,000 babies being born drug-addicted in the United States.

"They're getting pregnant only because they're irresponsible," says Harris. She says 87 women have taken her up on her offer. Most have chosen sterilization, she says.


'It's a cheap shot'

But some critics believe that the message of the program is that when people are poor, their children don't count.

"It's a cheap shot. These people are already down, and then you're going to wave $200 (in front of them)," says Ethel Long-Scott of the Womens' Economic Agenda Project. "Everybody knows that's not going to help you get housing and that's not going to help you get medical treatment."

Both the Catholic Church and Planned Parenthood also oppose the program.

"To offer them money in a situation where it could be just feeding their habit -- it really smacks of coercion," says Gloria Feldt of Planned Parenthood.

Harris says many of these woman refuse to go into drug programs. If they are on birth control, she says they at least won't be having more babies while they are on the street.

And Harris, who is white, also takes issue with critics who call her project racist. She says more white women have used the program than black women. She took one of her adopted sons, who is black, to a recent protest where her program was assailed.

"Drug addicts come in all colors. And for these women to assume that every drug addict that comes to us is black -- that's stereotyping their own race," she says.


Sign torn down
But her arguments did little to sway the crowd in Oakland, where protesters ripped the face off a billboard touting the program. Harris says that kind of reaction only toughens her resolve to continue the project.


http://www.cnn.com/US/9910/23/no.cra...strip.sign.jpg

NO
 

I have to pay for mine...so they can pay for theirs...and if they can't then don't be doin what your doin...simple as that...I mean it isn't fair...there are some things that are called condoms...give them out for free...

ronnie

Yes
 

It's probably cheaper than financially supporting their unwanted children for 18 years or more.

As reprehensible as some of us may find this idea, I agree that the end justifies the means. The small price we pay now will save millions of dollars in the long run.

Someone close to a family member of mine has had three children, all born with drugs in their system. The last time she didn't even know she was pregnant until her contractions started. And now that little boy is part of the system.

This one is touchy. On one hand I agree, women on drugs don't need to be having children, but I am not sure I want to give them $200 to become sterile. We all know exactly where they are going with that money and if you run across them 30 minutes later, chances are they won't even have a nickel to show for it. I just don't see feeding the habit and that is exactly what this program does. Also, what happens when a women who went through this program decides to get herself together, clean up her life, and decides she wants children. Is this sterilization reversible? I just don't know about this one. There has to be another way to keep drug addicted women from becoming pregnant.

Although it upsets me when drug addicts have babies and cannot take care of them, I do not think it is fair to sterilize them. I also do not feel it is ok for me to think I am better than they are. Everyone will face various issues in their life time. I do not know what type of background the individiual has come from. I think they have the right to choose whether or not they will be sterilized. I do however feel if they make they choice, it should be done for free with tax money. There is this misconception that most of the budget goes to welfare. ONLY about 2.5% actually does. They spend more money on the military budget than anything else...........


Rich or Poor- people have rights and I will respect those rights!

Birth control - yes

Sterilization - no. Not all addicts remain addicts for the rest of their lives.

I do feel that offering money is a coercion in this situation. If it is not, offer them free birth control or sterilization. Let them make a choice with out the inducement of money. At least then the money cannot eb motivating factor.