June 24, 2022, was a day that changed the lives of millions of women all around the country. On this day, Roe v. Wade was overturned after 47 years of protecting a women’s right to an abortion. But it didn’t only affect women. Many teenagers in high school don’t pay much attention to what is going on in politics because they believe that it doesn’t affect them, but this decision could hit a lot closer to home than they think. 

Roe v. Wade was a decision that was built upon the foundation of two other Court decisions. Griswold v. Connecticut was a case in 1965 that allowed married couples to be able to use contraceptives. And in 1972, non-married people were given the right to use contraceptives due to the Eisenstadt v. Baird decision. This is where we get the connection. Contraceptives, or more specifically birth control. Birth control is a form of contraception that is primarily used to prevent the conception of a baby, but it can be used in other ways as well. A lot of teenage girls use birth control as a hormone regulator to help with period cramps, hormonal acne, and mood swings. Without it, hormones can wreak havoc on one’s body. “I went off of birth control briefly, and it affected my flow, my mood, and made my cramps so bad that painkillers were ineffective,” said junior Kaleigh Fleming. 

We saw how easy it was for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, and some think that Eisenstadt v. Baird could be next. Overturning this decision could make using contraceptives unconstitutional. Supreme Court justices are dropping hints about this being their possible next course of action. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that “in future cases…the Court should reconsider…the decisions of the cases that established the right to contraceptives.” There is no telling what could come next, but if this court case were to be overturned, students all over the country (including those at NAHS) would be impacted. Many have strong opinions on this possibility. “Birth control is a medical resource that has been caught in the crossfire in the war on women’s rights,” said junior Liza Barry. “The decision to ban birth control would be illogical and result in severe consequences.”

The overturning of Roe v. Wade seems to be only the first step in a long, winding staircase where the higher you get, the less freedom you have. The future is uncertain, but one thing is for sure; when rights are altered, people become empowered. When people become more empowered the world changes. Only time will tell how these changes will inspire the people, including the students of North Atlanta.