Several national pharmacy chains said they’re imposing purchase limits on emergency contraception known as “morning-after pills” after a surge in demand after the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down Roe v. Wade.
Walgreens’ website initially stated that there would be limits on the drugs as well. The firm later told the WSJ that the restriction was an error. Deliveries of the drugs aren’t available at this time due to demand, a spokesperson told The New York Times.
A Walmart spokesperson said the company is limiting emergency contraception medication purchases to four to six per customer.
The pills work by preventing a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus or by preventing ovulation. They’re sold over the counter without an ID or prescription and differ from abortion pills, which require a prescription and take several weeks to terminate a pregnancy.
After the ruling, some on social media claimed that women should stockpile morning-after pills. Planned Parenthood, one of the leading abortion groups in the United States, issued a statement Monday warning not to stockpile the drugs because they have a short shelf life.
“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” he added in the opinion. “Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.”
