Louisiana is poised to make history by becoming the first state to classify abortion drugs as controlled dangerous substances. State lawmakers in Louisiana have given final approval to the bill, which now awaits the signature of Republican Governor Jeff Landry. The legislation comes in a state where abortion is already banned without exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
Medication abortion, which involves the use of drugs like mifepristone and misoprostol, is a common method of terminating pregnancies in the United States. In 2023, data from the Guttmacher Institute revealed that medication abortion accounted for 63% of all abortions, with over a million procedures performed, of which more than 600,000 involved this drug regimen.
Despite abortion already being illegal in Louisiana, the classification of mifepristone and misoprostol as Schedule IV controlled substances, alongside drugs like Xanax and Ambien, has sparked concerns. These drugs have various medical uses beyond abortion, such as managing miscarriages, treating hemorrhaging, and addressing GI ulcers.
Over 200 healthcare providers in Louisiana penned a letter to the bill's sponsor, expressing worries that labeling misoprostol as a dangerous drug of abuse could lead to misinformation and confusion. They argue that this move could jeopardize women's access to quality maternal care and threaten healthcare providers' autonomy in the state.
Louisiana's maternal mortality rate is already a concern, with statistics showing it to be among the highest in the country at 37 per 100,000 live births in 2022, compared to the national average of around 23 per 100,000. The healthcare providers fear that the new legislation could further exacerbate the state's maternal health challenges.
