Louisiana is Reclassifying Abortion Pills as a Schedule IV Drug — What You Need To Know

Louisiana has proposed a bill that would reclassify two drugs that are primarily used to terminate a pregnancy in the early stages.

When the bill is signed by Governor Jeff Landry, these abortion pills will be classified as schedule IV, which is the same category as highly addictive drugs such as Xanax.

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Louisiana is the first state to propose a bill that would require someone to have.a prescription to get mifepristone and misoprostol which are also used for miscarriage treatment, Cushing’s syndrome treatment, hemorrhaging treatment, among other things.

Not everyone is in favor of the idea of reclassifying this drug alongside highly addictive drugs such as alprazolam, carisoprodol, clonazepam, clorazepate, diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, temazepam, tramadol, and triazolam. Hundreds of doctors voiced their opinions in letters asking the Louisiana legislature not to create this barrier for physicians.

Louisiana is ranked 50th overall in health outcomes, so some are questioning whether this change would help or hurt our current standing. Rep. Aimee Freeman does not agree with the reclassification. In a House debate, she said that "50th in health outcomes is not pro-life."

KLFY reported that Louisiana has already passed a legislature that makes it a crime to have an 'elective abortion' using abortion pills, and you are now legally allowed to receive them by mail. With this added legislation that would make them a Schedule IV drug, some are worried that there will be delays and will limit accessibility for women who are having a medical emergency or do not have convenient access to their providers.

The bill has not been officially signed, but Governor Landry has agreed to move forward.