A Louisiana bill is seeking to classify abortion-inducing drugs, misoprostol and mifeprostone, as Schedule IV controlled substances, which would require them to be regulated similarly to narcotics and depressants. The bill was proposed as an amendment to a Senate bill that would criminalize giving abortion medication without the individual’s consent. The sponsor of the bill, Republican state Sen. Thomas Pressly, was inspired to introduce the legislation after his sister was given misoprostol against her will. Louisiana already has strict abortion laws in place, with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
The bill has sparked controversy among a group of nearly 270 Louisiana healthcare professionals, who signed a letter to Pressly expressing concerns about the reclassification of the drugs. They argue that neither mifepristone nor misoprostol have shown potential for abuse or dependence, posing no public health risk or high rates of adverse side effects. The professionals believe that categorizing these drugs as Schedule IV substances would create a false perception of their dangerous nature and hinder their widely prescribed and safe use. Pressly, on the other hand, refutes these claims by stating that the legislation does not prohibit the prescription or dispensing of misoprostol or mifepristone for legitimate reasons.
In a medication abortion, mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone necessary for a pregnancy to continue, followed by misoprostol, which causes the uterus to contract, leading to cramping and bleeding. Misoprostol is also used for other medical conditions such as preventing stomach ulcers and has been available at pharmacies for decades. The amended bill would make the unauthorized possession of misoprostol and mifepristone a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of up to $5,000. However, pregnant women in possession of the drugs for their own consumption would be exempt from prosecution, and doctors could still prescribe them.
Under the legislation, the distribution or possession with intent to distribute Schedule IV drugs in Louisiana carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $15,000. Lawmakers have until June 3 to finalize the legislation before it goes to Republican Governor Jeff Landry for his signature. Pressly maintains that the provision in the bill will not harm women’s healthcare, as doctors will still have the ability to prescribe misoprostol and mifepristone for legitimate medical reasons. Despite the controversy and opposition from healthcare professionals, the fate of the bill remains uncertain as it proceeds through the legislative process in Louisiana.
