Splicetoday

Sex
Jan 09, 2009, 06:46AM

MTV.com too edgy

Under-18 visitors to MTV.com will see banner ads for over-the-counter emergency contraceptives. And some people are pissed.

Because everyone knows contraceptives force children into the arms of Satan:

Emergency contraceptive Plan B has been controversial from the moment it was approved in 2006 as an over-the-counter drug available without a prescription to women 18 and older. Now, the brand's choice of ad placement is stoking debate about where --and at what age -- sexual- and reproductive-health education is appropriate.

If taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, Plan B has been shown to be effective at preventing pregnancies. Plan B, marketed by Duramed, a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired last month by Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, is not effective if a woman is already pregnant, and it will not terminate an existing pregnancy.

Age plays a role
The company is running a banner ad for Plan B on the popular MTV website, where media-measurement firm Quantcast found that nearly a third of users are younger than 18. Teva disputes that estimate. But age does play a role when it comes to marketing. Girls 17 and younger need a prescription to get the drug, which must be stocked behind the counter and dispensed by pharmacists.

 

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