Louisiana Classifies Medication Abortion Drugs as ‘Controlled Substances’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 28, 2024
Contact: [email protected]

On Friday, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed a bill that will classify medications used in medication abortion as “controlled substances” and impose criminal penalties for possession without a prescription. Below is a statement from Brittany Fonteno, President & CEO of the National Abortion Federation, in response to this news: 

Statement from Brittany Fonteno, President  & CEO of the National Abortion Federation

“This outrageous law has nothing to do with facts or medicine and everything to do with banning the most common method of abortion in the country. Medication abortion now accounts for more than half of all abortion care in the U.S. and the medications are safer than Tylenol. This law will create more confusion, fear, and stigma for people trying to access safe abortion and miscarriage care and for those who assist and support them. 

These medications are an essential part of the full spectrum of pregnancy care and this law will have a chilling effect on doctors and pharmacists that could delay care and worsen patient outcomes in a state that already suffers from the worst maternal health outcomes in the nation, especially for Black women and people in rural areas. Drugs are typically only designated as controlled substances when they are considered to carry a potential for abuse and dependency, such as opioids or depressants. The medications used in medication abortion do not fit this category and they have an outstanding safety record. Furthermore, a “controlled substance” designation also enables states to create a database of who’s receiving the drugs, which could be particularly frightening and dangerous for people seeking abortion care. 

NAF will continue working closely with our national network of member providers to ensure they can continue providing the best care possible to their patients, even in these challenging times. And as always, anyone in any state can call the National Abortion Hotline at 1-800-772-9100 to understand their options and get the assistance they need, whether that’s help finding a provider, arranging travel to another state, or funding for their care.”

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The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the nation’s largest and leading professional association of abortion providers. NAF represents hundreds of providers and clinics across the country that are on the frontlines of abortion access. NAF provides members with trainings, security support, and guidelines that serve as the gold standard of abortion care. NAF also operates the National Abortion Hotline, the nation’s largest national, toll-free, multi-lingual hotline for abortion resources and travel and financial assistance in the U.S. Learn more at https://nationalabortionfederation.org