Following reports of a spike in drug sales over the past few years, Chile is reporting it has seen almost triple the amount of sales of the "morning after" pill.
Sales of the pill have increased from 15,000 in 2010 to 45,000 this year, according to La Tercera.
"The 'morning after' pill is more socialized among Chileans" said Ramiro Molina, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the University of Chile.
A new law in 2010 allowing young teens to ask for the pill without adult consent has been cited as a reason behind the increase, and figures obtained by La Tercera show that the highest group of users is aged 15 to 24.
The most sold to-date has been 48,000 in 2012.
Molina said that the local governments have also realized the benefits and fewer mayors are refusing to dispense the pill to minors.
From 2006-2009, about 40 percent of mayors refused, but since then the number is about 5 percent.
Midwives are seeing the increase as well in young adults asking for the drug.
Anita Roman, president of the College of Midwives, said that the three lowest income brackets consult midwives for this type of issue first, and she has seen the age groups requesting.
The top municipalities where girls 14-18 are using the pill are Maipú, La Florida and El Bosque.
The vice president of the Association of Municipalities and mayor of El Bosque, Sadi Melo, told La Tercera that even though he has approved the use of the pill for young adults, based on the national law, he still believes parents should be involved in the process.
"We try to keep the population attending an orientation process, the use of contraception and sexual responsibility," he said. "I agree that young people have certain rights, but I also believe that it is necessary that the family also share the responsibility. "
