Louisiana Reclassifies Abortion Drugs as Controlled Substances

New law raises concerns about access to essential reproductive health medications

Louisiana lawmakers have reclassified two drugs commonly used in reproductive health care, mifepristone and misoprostol, as controlled dangerous substances. This decision has alarmed doctors who rely on these medications for various medical treatments, including inducing abortions up to 10 weeks of gestation.

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The New Law and Its Implications

The new law, effective October 1, lists mifepristone and misoprostol as Schedule IV drugs under Louisiana’s Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law. This classification imposes penalties of up to 10 years in prison for possession without a valid prescription. Governor Jeff Landry signed the bill into law in May.

This move is part of a broader effort by anti-abortion advocates to limit access to abortion medications in states like Louisiana with near-total abortion bans. According to Daniel Grossman, an OB-GYN and reproductive health researcher at the University of California-San Francisco, this approach is unprecedented and represents a new front in the battle over reproductive rights.

Medical Community’s Response

Over 250 doctors from various specialties across Louisiana signed a letter to state Senator Thomas Pressly, the bill’s sponsor, arguing that the reclassification could delay lifesaving care for women. Nicole Freehill, a New Orleans OB-GYN, emphasized that mifepristone and misoprostol are essential for treating miscarriages, stopping obstetric hemorrhaging, and other medical procedures.

Background of the Legislation

The proposal to reclassify these drugs originated from amendments to Pressly’s bill, which aimed to create the crime of “coerced criminal abortion.” Pressly’s sister, Catherine Pressly Herring, testified that her ex-husband had given her abortion drugs without her knowledge, prompting the legislation.

Louisiana Right to Life, an influential anti-abortion group, helped draft the bill. Sarah Zagorski, the group’s communications director, dismissed claims that the reclassification would harm women’s health as “fearmongering.”

Impact on Medication Access

Studies have shown a significant increase in the online ordering of abortion pills in states with strict abortion laws. Anti-abortion advocates claim that the new law will still allow physicians to dispense mifepristone and misoprostol for lawful medical care, and women using the medications for self-induced abortions would not face criminal charges.

Concerns from Health Experts

Experts argue that reclassifying these medications as controlled substances is not scientifically justified. Jennifer Avegno, a New Orleans emergency physician, pointed out that there is no risk of addiction to mifepristone or misoprostol, unlike other controlled substances like opioids.

Doctors fear the reclassification will create confusion and delay care, especially in a state with high maternal injury and death rates. Freehill expressed concerns that pharmacists might become more reluctant to dispense these medications, potentially leading to dangerous delays for patients experiencing miscarriages.

Legal and Social Ramifications

The law also criminalizes support for abortions, adding up to 50 years in prison for mailing abortion-inducing drugs. Reproductive rights attorney Elizabeth Ling worries that the law will isolate pregnant women from support networks and deter people from obtaining or helping others obtain these medications.

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Louisiana’s reclassification of mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled dangerous substances raises significant concerns about access to essential reproductive health care. The medical community fears that this law will hinder timely treatment and create additional barriers for women in need of these medications.

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References:

• Federal Drug Administration (FDA)
• Louisiana Legislature
• University of California-San Francisco
• Louisiana Right to Life
• If/When/How Reproductive Rights Organization

For more details on the implications of this new law, refer to the full reports from the Louisiana Legislature and medical experts.