Did you know that there is a drug that is 75 percent effective when taken within 24 hours and less likely to cause an adverse reaction than aspirin? Experts say this same drug could reduce the estimated annual 3 million unintended pregnancies in the United States by 50 percent and prevent as many as 800,000 abortions a year. The name of this drug is emergency contraception (EC).
Emergency contraception, also known as the "morning after pill" is a method of preventing pregnancy, which can be used up to 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse, contraceptive failure or rape.
Yet, unfortunately, in most states in the United States (including Arizona), this vital drug is available to women by prescription only. Since EC is a time-sensitive drug, this causes a serious problem. Many college health care centers and doctor's offices do not offer EC or are closed on the weekends and in the evenings - times when women need access to EC the most.
The prescription-only requirement imposes needless and harmful burdens on women's access to EC. Women need EC available over-the-counter, accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) once again gave in to right-wing pressure in deciding to delay its decision on over-the-counter (OTC) status for the emergency contraceptive, Plan B, for women ages 16 and older. Previously, in May 2004, Barr Laboratories was given a "not approvable" letter from the FDA when they applied for OTC status for Plan B. This decision was made despite the fact that the FDA's own expert advisory panel deemed the drug to be safe and effective and voted 23-4 in favor of making it available over-the-counter. The OTC status of emergency contraception is supported by a wide-range of medical and women's health organizations, including the American Medical Association, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Women's Health Network and National Black Women's Health Project.
Besides the unnecessary prescription requirement, there are other barriers to EC availability. In states like Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, New Mexico and Washington, that currently allow women to obtain EC at certain certified pharmacies without a prescription, some pharmacists and pharmacies have outright refused to fill prescriptions for EC pills (Wal-Mart among others).
Last week, Rep. Doug Quelland introduced legislation in the Arizona House of Representatives that would allow pharmacists and all other medical professionals to refuse to dispense birth control pills and emergency contraception without fear of being fired. The issue, known as health care rights of conscience, gained national attention last year when some Texas pharmacists refused to fill an EC prescription for a rape victim seeking to prevent pregnancy.
Women need access to this vital drug without such harmful and unnecessary barriers. Please join the Network of Feminist Student Activists in demanding that the FDA make this safe and effective drug accessible to all women. You can do so by sending an electronic letter at:
Also encourage your Arizona congressional representatives to support a bill that would require hospitals to at least inform rape victims about the option of EC, a bill that has already failed twice. For more info on EC and how to access it, contact the UA Women's Health Clinic at 621-6512.
- Kelly Kraus is the president of the Network of Feminist Student Activists and a women's studies and political science senior.