Teenagers are turning to telehealth services to obtain abortion medications, especially in states with restrictive abortion laws. Telehealth service requests for abortion medication rose for all age groups in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling outlawing abortion in June 2022, but more than tripled for adolescents. They were highest in states with gestational bans and parental consent and notification requirements. JAMA Health Forum notes that previous studies found that abortion restrictions led to increased demand for medication via telehealth services, but those studies were age-agnostic. “Young people appear to increasingly rely on online telemedicine services for abortion care,” JAMA concludes, “with compounding legal restrictions driving demand.”
