Dear Colleague:
Greed-driven manufacturers of the morning-after pill (MAP) are hoping that
the FDA will soon approve this abortifacient drug for over-the-counter
sale. Eight months ago the FDA rightly rejected this very bad idea.
Nothing has changed since then. Call 888-463-6332 to urge them to do so
again.
Steven W. Mosher
President
PRI Weekly Briefing
20 January 2005
Vol. 7 / No. 3
OTC MAP is Back
By Joseph A. D'Agostino
Despite deciding against non-prescription sales of the morning-after pill
(MAP) just last May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could decide
as early as today to effectively reverse that decision. Taken within 72
hours after intercourse, MAP prevents pregnancy-or so its advocates say.
The American MAP's manufacturer has even proposed a novel,
never-before-approved method for regulating the drug's sale in order to
get it into the hands of as many women and girls as possible while
satisfying the FDA's safety concerns. The campaign to expand MAP's
availability, both in the United States and around the world, rests on two
lies: That MAP is safe for women and girls, and that MAP only prevents
pregnancy rather than killing unborn children.
The second lie is the more blatant. MAP is often called "emergency
contraception," and under that misleading name it has been introduced
around the world with government and international funds that are not
supposed to go for abortion. Something called "contraception" should
prevent conception from occurring--that's what "contraception" means--but
MAP doesn't always do this. Instead, it prevents the implantation of an
already conceived child, killing an unborn baby in the early stages of
life.
The push for MAP (sold under the brand name "Plan B" in the United States)
is so intense that pro-abortion experts have redefined pregnancy to begin
at "implantation," rather than "conception," thus allowing them to claim
that MAP has no abortifacient effect whatsoever. This Orwellian tampering
with language is intended to deceive the public-including anti-abortion
women who are willing to use contraceptives but not abortifacients-and is
almost as disturbing as MAP itself.
If MAP kills unborn children, is it nonetheless safe for mothers,
particularly the teenagers who will get their hands on MAP without medical
supervision if it is sold over the counter? Plan B's manufacturer, Barr
Laboratories, and leading American feminist organizations say yes. But as
we noted in a 2004 report, Under the Table: Why the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration Should Not Approve the Over-the-Counter Distribution of
Morning-After Pills, "Berlin-based Schering, manufacturer of two MAP
products primarily used in Western Europe. . .has refused to sell MAP in
countries where it is available without a prescription."
As for Plan B itself, a "December 2003 FDA advisory committee meeting
revealed that certain MAP research issues were not resolved," said the
report. "These include evidence on long-term safety, especially as to
ectopic pregnancy; safety in [already] pregnant women and MAP-exposed
fetuses; use as primary form of contraception. . .and interactions with
other drugs." Perhaps the greatest concern is that if MAP is available
over the counter, women and girls will use it repeatedly rather than take
care to use contraception or abstain. This could lead to unknown
consequences.
Plan B contains levonorgestrel, the same active ingredient in the
contraceptive Norplant. Norplant has been yanked from the American market
because it's so dangerous.
Barr says it wants pharmacies to keep MAP behind the counter and sell it
only to those 16 years old and older. This is a dubious stratagem at
best, one never before approved by the FDA. Does anyone doubt that minors
will easily be able to get their hands on it without their parents'
knowledge? Younger girls will get older friends to buy the drug for
them-or their boyfriends will, since so many studies show that many boys
and men having relations with 13-, 14-, and 15-year-old girls are several
years (or more) older than their girlfriends.
Even though there is little data on how MAP affects younger teenagers,
feminists want 13-year-olds to get MAP. Referring to Barr's 16-year-old
minimum, the National Organization for Women (NOW) said January 18, "The
National Organization for Women opposes that restriction."
Over-the-counter sales of MAP will likely greatly increase its use,
judging from other countries' experience. "Sales of the morning-after
pill have soared 60% in the 12 months since the emergency contraceptive
became available over the counter in pharmacies," reported the Australian
on January 13. "The rise in sales sparked a warning from Australian
Medical Association president Bill Glasson that Postinor-2 should not be
used as a drug of convenience. Health Minister Tony Abbott [who is
pro-life] last year expressed concern about reports girls as young as 13
had requested the emergency contraceptive." (Yes, there is the phrase
"emergency contraceptive.")
If you oppose over-the-counter availability of MAP, please express your
opinion politely but firmly to the FDA. Go to:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/comment/commentdrug.htm
Or call the comment line, 888-463-6332.
Do it now.
Joseph A. D'Agostino is Vice President for Communications at the
Population Research Institute.
PRI
P.O. Box 1559
Front Royal, VA 22630
USA
Phone: (540) 622-5240 Fax: (540) 622-2728
Email: jad@pop.org
Media Contact: Joseph A. D'Agostino
(540) 622-5240, ext. 204
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