From the Center for Arizona policy:

www.azpolicy.org

1) Abortion by the Numbers

Every single abortion is a tragedy beyond compare. It takes the life of an individual who can never be replaced. It also harms the woman in deeply personal and physical ways. Today, though, I'd like to give you an idea of the both the toll of abortion and the very real hope that abortion's hold on our nation is coming to an end.

At least 50 million preborn children have been killed through legal abortion over the last 35 years.
Approximately 1.2 million abortions occur annually.
About half of the women having abortions are 25 years or older with about 60 percent having given birth to at least one child prior to getting the abortion.
About 47 percent of all women have had an abortion by the time they are 45 years old.
Medical abortions - caused by taking abortion pills - account for 13% of all abortions, double the level of medical abortions in 2001. Abortion proponents see the abortion pills as one solution to the lack of doctors willing to perform surgical abortions.
Women who abort a first pregnancy are nearly four times more likely to engage in subsequent drug or alcohol abuse than women who never have an abortion.
The suicide rate for post-abortive women is six times higher than those who had miscarried.
In 1992, there were 2,152 abortion clinics. There are now fewer than 750 in operation.
There are at least 19 abortion "providers" in Arizona, compared to 43 in 1977.
There are now more than 2,300 pregnancy resource centers all over the country, willing to help mothers find alternatives to abortion.
There are at least 46 pregnancy resource center locations throughout Arizona.
Only 28 percent of 18 to 29 year-old women believe that an abortion should be available to "any woman who wants it." That percentage has shrunk from 49 percent in 1993.
The U.S. abortion rate has fallen to 19.4 abortions for every 1,000 women, the lowest level in three decades.
In 2006, there were 10,506 abortions in Arizona, compared to 15,783 in 1990.

"Women who abort a first pregnancy are nearly four times more likely to engage in subsequent drug or alcohol abuse than women who never have an abortion."

Notice that it doesn't say "because" of the abortion. This is another example of correlation but not causation. Women who abort their first pregnancy might very well have found themselves pregnant by "mistake" for many of the same reasons they end up with drug and alcohol problems.

Also the "four times more likely" statistic is interesting, but my guess it's still a fairly low number in real terms.

I was surprised by the figure that 47% of all women have had an abortion.

Hal,

Notice that it doesn't say "because" of the abortion. This is another example of correlation but not causation.

Actually Hal, it doesn't say anything one way or the other. Just reports the statistic...

"Women who abort a first pregnancy are nearly four times more likely to engage in subsequent drug or alcohol abuse than women who never have an abortion."

But it sure does seem strange that women that don't abort their first pregnancy, are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol...what do you think it is? Coincidence? Or do you agree with Nola whatshername that women who have abortions are unstable to begin with?

If you could all pray for my dad this morning..I just found out he was in a 6-car collision as a result of somebody not paying attention to actually driving. So please pray..I'm going to the hospital soon to see how he is.

We're with you Elizabeth, hope everything is okay.

I'll pray for your Dad Elizabeth, hope everything is Ok..

It seems that Obama holds himself in really high regard, so much so that there appears to be more than a hint of a messianic complex. Are others saying the same? Googling "messiah" or "messianic" alongside Obama reveals that many others do indeed see the same thing.

Of all the presidential candidates, Barack Obama is uniquely unqualified to hold the highest office in the land. He is not a leader of men. He is not a statesman. He certainly is no John Kennedy. He talks a great line and has a superb ability to deliver a speech, but what has he done in terms of exercising leadership in either government or in the private sector? Precious little.

Elizabeth, I'll keep you and your family in my thoughts. I hope everything is okay.

mk:

But it sure does seem strange that women that don't abort their first pregnancy, are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol...what do you think it is? Coincidence?

Perhaps the young child they have at home? Several of my friends who have had unplanned pregnancies at very unstable points in their lives (partying, drinking, drugs, etc) left their old habits behind once they decided to continue the pregnancy. The nine months without alcohol or energy, combined with the subsequent responsibility of having someone depend on you for everything, made for pretty good motivation to change. For women living unstable lives who don't have nine months of pregnancy followed by years of raising a small child, there's less incentive to change their ways.

Alexandra,

Good insight. It didn't mention how many were using before the pregnancy...hmmmmm...something to think about.

Hal,

Notice that it doesn't say "because" of the abortion. This is another example of correlation but not causation.

Actually Hal, it doesn't say anything one way or the other. Just reports the statistic...

"Women who abort a first pregnancy are nearly four times more likely to engage in subsequent drug or alcohol abuse than women who never have an abortion."

But it sure does seem strange that women that don't abort their first pregnancy, are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol...what do you think it is? Coincidence? Or do you agree with Nola whatshername that women who have abortions are unstable to begin with?

Posted by: mk at January 24, 2008 9:50 AM
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Women that continue their first pregnancies are not mentioned. By being omitted you are making an assumption. You'd be very foolish to try to assert that women who do not abort have nodependency issues.

Perhaps the young child they have at home? Several of my friends who have had unplanned pregnancies at very unstable points in their lives (partying, drinking, drugs, etc) left their old habits behind once they decided to continue the pregnancy. The nine months without alcohol or energy, combined with the subsequent responsibility of having someone depend on you for everything, made for pretty good motivation to change. For women living unstable lives who don't have nine months of pregnancy followed by years of raising a small child, there's less incentive to change their ways.

This is very true, Alexandra. I know it certainly had that effect on me..and I'm SO glad it did. What a crazy girl I used to be lol.

What a crazy girl I used to be lol.

Elizabeth, to each their own. You and your daughter are such sweeties that I wish you nothing but the best.

Doug