Discussion
  • Read More
    thegirlriotsAnna Merlan
    11/03/15 2:20pm

    I live in TN and have been pretty surprised to find out that heroin is such a big thing around here. I'm not sure why, I guess I just figured the drug of choice would be meth? Anyway, it turns out we have a huge heroin problem.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Tabithathegirlriots
      11/03/15 2:41pm

      Because heroin is really cheap. People who have been hooked on oxycontin (thanks doctors!) and can’t afford them anymore turn to heroin.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      Wallflowerthegirlriots
      11/03/15 2:42pm

      It’s because doctors around here give out opioid pain medicines like they’re candy. I know so many people addicted to prescription pain killers that it’s ridiculous. But i can almost see why. I’m in East Tennessee and the local urgent cares are pretty happy to hand out a scripts. But if you can’t find a doctor to right you a script then heroine can be cheaper and easier to obtain.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    accordingtoAnna Merlan
    11/03/15 2:12pm

    Are you sure they received IUDs and not Nexplanon? The source article is kinda vague, but I’d think they’d want to give them the method with the least-invasive insertion, and that’s Nexplanon.

    As long as this program is VOLUNTARY, good for them. I’ve seen newborns go through heroin withdrawal and it is awful.

    Edit: Math says two hours divided by 23 women means a little more than five minutes per patient. Don’t IUD insertions take a bit longer than that?

    Edit again: Ok, misread that, On September 23rd, women went to the health center to get birth control. It did not actually specify the number.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      DarkCountenanceaccordingto
      11/03/15 2:18pm

      It sounds like they’re being offered either. I assume other options are presented as well, but those aren’t things it’s effective to give people too far prior to release.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      shelwoodaccordingto
      11/03/15 2:19pm

      It seems to be both voluntary and non-permanent/reversible, so I really don’t see the problem. They are not sterilizing these women.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    SaffronAnna Merlan
    11/03/15 2:04pm

    My sister-in-law, a heroin and barbituate user, gave birth to my nephew while using. He was born full term, weighing very little (can’t remember) and spent the first weeks of his life struggling with seizures and withdrawal - he had to be given opiates to be comfortable. He then spent about four months in a specialized hospital for such babies. He suffered from a cleft palate, inability to swallow that required multiple surgeries and appeared to be painful, had webbed hands and feet and facial deformities. He is now 29 and has led a very sheltered and withdrawn life and, from speaking to specialists, he is not unusual. Who would wish a life filled with pain and operations on anyone? To say that most addicted babies are just fine after a few years may be true but that is not always what happens. My sister-in-law was offered an abortion when her pregnancy was discovered but, as she had already had an abortion and was guilt tripped by her Catholic family about it she went ahead and gave birth to our nephew (a little boy she promptly abandoned). We live in Canada so medical costs have never been a problem but I can’t imagine what would happen if they were.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      jemandthehologramsSaffron
      11/03/15 3:49pm

      Everyone should read this and understand what drug addicted babies rally mean.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      ItshardbeingagirlSaffron
      11/03/15 7:41pm

      I think (and genuinely hope) that treatments for these babies have improved with time and better understanding of their problems, resulting in improved outcomes. A few days ago, my husband participated in a program where he was paired with a doc in a local hospital and toured a NICU, asking questions of the staff. He said they were mostly optimistic about the babies born addicted. They were mostly concerned about the family situations they would be in once they left the hospital.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    DDishaAnna Merlan
    11/03/15 2:00pm

    So, let me get this straight. People are outraged by abortions, outraged and cough, heartbroken over drug addicted newborns, but, they don't want to adopt or pay for the upkeep of said newborns, but, they are upset because incarcerated women with no means of income can be given some free birth control???? Okay, now I understand. It makes perfect sense. If you're a moron with no heart. Those dang prison dolls should just keep their legs together. Problem solved. We should buy them free bibles instead.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      victrinDDisha
      11/03/15 2:05pm
      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      clockworkandcameosDDisha
      11/03/15 2:10pm

      The people who rant about these “horrible mothers having drug addicted babies” don’t want to pay for these women to have birth control, they want to force these women to be fixed and cannot understand why that is totally fucked up and a violation of human rights.

      These people are horrible.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    monkeyjeebusAnna Merlan
    11/03/15 1:57pm

    I am really surprised at the response from PP. If these inmates are getting low-cost birth control by their own decision, how is that bad?

    Goddess bless Tennessee for going for this, and curse the tea party for their inevitable hysterical opposition.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Moraliamonkeyjeebus
      11/03/15 2:03pm

      Maybe it’s reverse psychology. “If we say we don’t like it and imply it’s a Man’s idea (paternalistic), maybe the wingnuts’ll leave it alone.”

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      whoateallthecheeriosmonkeyjeebus
      11/03/15 2:14pm

      So here’s a bit more from the quote from the PP rep:

      “It seems very … coercive. It seems paternalistic. It seems almost classist, in a way.”

      Teague questioned whether the choice to take the birth control is truly voluntary.

      “You are talking about women who are incarcerated, talking with people in positions of authority and who have power over their situations,” he said.

      —————————————————————————————

      So it seems like there is a mistrust of the system, that there is potential for abuse: it’s completely possible that some of these inmates felt pressured/coerced into accepting this form of birth control. So while I’m all for offering free birth control to anyone who wants it, I can see where some of the backlash is coming from. I think it’s a good program, but perhaps needs more oversight/transparency, to reduce the potential for abuse?

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    jeanneeeAnna Merlan
    11/03/15 2:06pm

    Here’s something I don’t say very often: Good job on the sensible program and beneficial use of taxpayer dollars, Tennessee.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      mazzieDjeanneee
      11/03/15 2:27pm

      Yes, finally, my taxpayer money is well spent. Now how much is being spent on supporting abstinence only sex ed, which has been consistently proven to not work at all?

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      jeanneeemazzieD
      11/03/15 3:59pm

      You probably don’t want to know. :(

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    Lol. Wait what?Anna Merlan
    11/03/15 2:11pm

    Just another example of how Conservatives don’t really care about the well-being of individuals, they just don’t want anyone getting anything “for free”. Unless if it’s them or a loved one. Then it’s ok.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Count_Zero_InterruptLol. Wait what?
      11/03/15 2:37pm

      They also don’t even really care about saving money. They hate any social program that helps prevent crime and create social stability if it means someone gets something for free, and at the same time they’ll throw unlimited money at punishment and persecution no matter how ineffective it’s proven to be in actually preventing crime or making anyone safer.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      TabithaLol. Wait what?
      11/03/15 2:42pm

      Especially if it’s something that remotely has anything to do with women’s sexuality and “personal responsibility”. Whores should have more self-control, keep those legs crossed. Can’t do it? Well, not my problem, don’t come to me for help.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    Schemehatchery 2.0Anna Merlan
    11/03/15 2:03pm

    Can we just make IUDs affordable and available for all women now?

    I live in TN. Conservatives here love to whine about “low income, inner city” (read: black) people having too many children but no one wants to provide any sort of solution for women to control their reproductive choices. No affordable birth control because “tax payers” don’t want their money helping anyone who isn’t middle class and white. No abortions because Jesus loves fetuses. No sex ed because then your pristine daughter will become a Super Slut (tm).

    My IUD is the best decision I ever made. I love it. I don’t have to remember anything. It doesn’t cost anything on a monthly basis (ie, I can’t go broke and have to decide if I eat or roll the dice on getting pregnant). It doesn’t have any noticeable side effects. It’s good for five years! I’m lucky as fuck that I have insurance and could get one just by asking at a regular gyn visit.

    Besides all that, women coming out of prison are at an extreme disadvantage already. If we would get out of the punitive mindset (and, according to ‘murican justice, they’ve already “paid their debt to society” anyways) we might actually be able to take steps to reduce recidivism. Things like helping ex-inmates get jobs, find housing, and, shock and surprise, access birth control to reduce the chance of an unexpected pregnancy.

    Fucking hell.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      durkbotSchemehatchery 2.0
      11/03/15 2:34pm

      But giving women reproductive choice gives them the chance to break the cycle of poverty and that just won’t do at all. Gotta have an underclass to point a finger at to distract everyone whilst they hand out tax dollars to rich corporations.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    DonnaFayeAnna Merlan
    11/03/15 3:02pm

    Why is it assumed that taxpayers don’t want to fund contraception? I’m a taxpayer and on the list of things I actually want my taxes going to family planning is right at the top, along with comprehensive sex ed. Hand it out for free on every corner as far as I’m concerned.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      ZabellaDonnaFaye
      11/03/15 3:28pm

      Why is it assumed that taxpayers don’t want to fund contraception? I’m a taxpayer and on the list of things I actually want my taxes going to family planning is right at the top, along with comprehensive sex ed. Hand it out for free on every corner as far as I’m concerned.

      You don’t understand contraception! Not only does it makes people (especially teenagers) want to have sex, or more sex, but except for condoms, all forms of birth control are abortifacients. /sarcasm*

      *I’m being sarcastic but I’ll wager if you ask a tax paying conservative who opposes this program, you’ll get a similar answer.

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    BrightEyesAnna Merlan
    11/03/15 3:42pm

    Time for this yet again.

    Reply
    <