Abortion rate lowest since it became legal

A comprehensive new survey finds the annual number of abortions in the U.S has dropped to well under 1 million, the lowest level since 1974.

The report, which counted 926,200 abortions in 2014, was released Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group which supports abortion rights. It is the only entity which strives to count all abortions in the U.S.; the latest federal survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lacks data from California, Maryland and New Hampshire.

The total from 2014 represented a drop of 12.5 percent from Guttmacher’s previous survey, which tallied 1.06 million abortions in 2011. The decrease was spread nationwide; in only six states did abortions increase over the three-year span.

According to the report, the abortion rate was 14.6 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44, the lowest rate since abortion was legalized nationally in 1973 by the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.

Following that ruling, the number of abortions in the U.S. rose steadily — reaching a peak of 1.6 million in 1990 — before starting a decline.

The authors of the new report, Guttmacher researchers Rachel Jones and Jenna Jerman, said the latest phase of the decline was likely the result of two main factors: the increased availability of affordable, longlasting contraceptives that have reduced unintended pregnancies, and the surge of abortion restrictions in many states that have forced some clinics to close and hindered many women’s access to the procedure. in the number of sober homes in the last decade. Police estimate there are about 150 homes in the 16-square-mile city.

Recovering addicts often receive treatment while living in the homes, which are protected under the Americans with Disabilities and Fair Housing Acts.

The federal rules were designed to protect recovering addicts from discrimination, but have also largely prevented cities from regulating sober homes and other community housing.

The city’s agreement requires Attorney Daniel Lauber issue a report to the city identifying how to best regulate community housing within the guidelines of the Fair Housing Act.

He’ll also recommend rules to the city revising community housing regulations and, if the city wants, draft licensing rules for sober living homes and other similar types of residences, according to the agreement.

Delray Beach and other Palm Beach County cities are considering the changes on the heels of a November statement from the Departments of Justice, Housing and Urban Development.

That statement clarified the Fair Housing Act does not prevent government from regulating the overconcentration of sober homes, or denying requests that cause a financial or administrative burden on the city.