States like Louisiana have already banned the sale of the FDA-approved drugs mifepristone and misoprostol. Both are classified as controlled substances alongside drugs like Xanax and Valium.
Both drugs are recommended regimens by the FDA for ending pregnancies before ten weeks.
The banning of misoprostol specifically is more problematic, as it’s used for many reasons, cited by Kirsten Moore, director of the Expanding medication Abortion Access Project. She said it’s commonly used through the course of pregnancy for everything, including dilation at nine months.
In 2023, medical abortions accounted for 63% of total abortions across the U.S., Moore saying this method is more accessible for people of all income levels. The drugs can still be mailed legally, confirmed by the U.S. Postal Service. The drug has been FDA approved for 25 years, and organizations like the abortion access project believe it should stay available in all 50 states.
If these two drugs are officially banned by Idaho lawmakers, it raises concern that many other FDA approved drugs and treatments will also be restricted or banned in the future.
