In a move that’s drawing national attention, the Louisiana Senate has approved a bill that will reclassify two commonly used abortion medications, mifepristone and misoprostol, as controlled substances. This unprecedented decision makes Louisiana the first state in the U.S. to place these drugs in the same category as Xanax and Valium, drugs known for their potential for abuse and addiction.
The legislation, which passed the House on Tuesday and the Senate on Thursday, criminalizes the unprescribed possession of these abortion pills, carrying penalties of up to five years in prison and fines reaching $5,000. Pregnant women, however, are exempt from these penalties.
The bill’s reclassification amendment was appended to a broader law targeting coerced abortions via fraud. It specifically aims to make it a crime to administer abortion-inducing medication to a pregnant woman without her knowledge.
Louisiana already enforces one of the strictest abortion bans in the country, allowing exceptions only to save the mother’s life. The new measure, now awaiting the governor’s signature, would designate mifepristone and misoprostol as Schedule IV drugs under state law.
These medications are vital in more than half of U.S. abortions, typically taken together to enable women to terminate pregnancies at home. Beyond abortion, they are also used for treating miscarriages, inducing labor, and managing ulcers.
Opponents of the legislation argue that this reclassification could impede access to these medications for non-abortion uses, particularly in rural areas with fewer pharmacies and healthcare providers equipped to handle controlled substances.
The FDA, which has endorsed the safety and efficacy of these drugs for over two decades, maintains that they are safe when used as prescribed. However, access varies across states, with some requiring an in-person visit to obtain the pills, while others allow pharmacy dispensation.
Proponents assert that the bill is necessary to prevent the illicit use of these drugs, such as in cases of coerced abortions—the core issue the bill aims to address. Senator Thomas Pressly, the bill’s primary sponsor, cited a personal connection, noting his sister’s traumatic experience when her then-husband secretly administered abortion drugs to her, nearly ending her pregnancy and causing severe health issues.
Abortion rights advocates condemn the legislation, viewing it as part of a broader Republican strategy to criminalize abortion. Petrice Sams-Abiodun from Planned Parenthood’s Gulf Coast branch argues that the bill exacerbates the risks of pregnancy and childbirth in Louisiana, a state already plagued by poor maternal health outcomes, especially among Black women and rural populations.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments regarding the prescription and distribution of mifepristone, with justices expressing skepticism toward anti-abortion arguments. The outcome of this case could further influence the national discourse on abortion rights and access.
This legislative move is a significant chapter in Louisiana’s ongoing and contentious battle over abortion rights, spotlighting the deepening divide in reproductive health policies across the United States.
