Press Releases & Statements
Statement on Dobbs v. Jackson
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson is an egregious attack on bodily autonomy, removing a pregnant person’s right to autonomous decision making over the most personal and most consequential of life decisions.
SAHM Statement in Response to Recurrent Mass Shootings
The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) stands with the Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York communities in the aftermath of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary school, resulting in the death of 19 students and two teachers just ten days after the racially motivated mass shooting of 10 adults at the Tops Supermarket in a Black community in Buffalo, New York. Children, adolescents, and young adults throughout the world deserve to be safe where they learn, live, work, and play.
SAHM/NASPAG Statement on leaked draft SCOTUS opinion regarding Mississippi v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
A leaked draft opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States regarding Mississippi v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization raises concern that federal protections for abortion access may be at risk1. In the interest of the health and well-being of adolescents and young adults in the United States, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) and the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (NASPAG) object to any restrictions placed on the reproductive rights and care of adolescents and young adults, including access to safe abortion.
NASPAG/SAHM Statement: The 21st Century Cures Act & Adolescent Confidentiality
The North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (NASPAG) and SAHM issued a joint statement to help inform institutional policies around release of information for adolescents.
SAHM Calls for Action to Protect Justice-Involved Youth
The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) urges governors, adult and juvenile justice system administrators, courts, and other state and local officials, who have not already done so, to rapidly and significantly reduce the number of youths in juvenile detention and correctional facilities by suspending new admissions and releasing those detained or incarcerated whenever possible in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and the negative effects that may result from periods of medical isolation or quarantine in a confinement setting. SAHM endorses the American Academy of Pediatrics statement on responding to the needs of youth involved in the justice system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SAHM Calls for Release Immigrant Youth and their Families from ICE Detention Centers
The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM), along with thousands of medical and public health experts, recommend the immediate release of youth and their families detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Centers into the custody of appropriately screened sponsors in the United States.
This measure is the safest strategy to protect this population living with social and health inequities as well as federal employees working at the centers and their communities. It is an essential strategy to prevent overwhelming of health systems in the broader society. We call on ICE, state and federal officials to act now to protect the health and human rights of immigrant youth and families in detention.
SAHM Releases Statement on Recent Victims of Systemic Racism in Law Enforcement
As adolescent health clinicians and researchers, SAHM members understand that racism is a core social determinant of health that has far-reaching effects on health and well-being. All levels of racism – institutionalized, personally mediated, and internalized – drive disparities in health outcomes. Experiences of discrimination lead to internalized negative stereotypes that preclude the development of a positive identity and may lead to depression, anxiety and suicide.
Medical Groups Serving Youth Warn That Crisis Pregnancy Centers Pose Serious Health Risks
Today, the Journal of Adolescent Health and Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology published a position paper jointly issued by the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) and the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (NASPAG) detailing how crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) fail to consistently follow medical and ethical practice standards, which could lead to negative health outcomes. The centers frequently advertise themselves in misleading ways and often provide unproven or inadequate services. Many also share biased, misleading, and inaccurate health information to prevent people from having an abortion, using modern methods of contraception, and engaging in sex outside of marriage. However, crisis pregnancy centers in the United States are increasingly securing government funding, support, and legal protections.
SAHM Urges Organizations and Health Professionals to Address Racism
The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) has released a position paper, published in the August issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, strongly encouraging organizations, providers, researchers and policymakers to address the negative and pervasive consequences of racism.
SAHM Updates Position Paper, Publishes Review in JAH with Other Leaders in Adolescent Health
Expert Review Shows Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Policies and Programs are Harmful and Ineffective for Adolescents and Young Adults
