According to a survey conducted by NARAL to document the availability of emergency contraception (also known as EC, the morning after pill or Plan B) in North Carolina, about 40 percent of North Carolina pharmacies do not carry the “morning after pill.” 11% of the roughly 600 pharmacies NARAL surveyed earlier this year said they would require a prescription for all women seeking EC. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they were unaware the drug was effective for up to 72 hours after sex. Quoted prices for EC ranged from $20 to $500.
The group attributed the pill’s unavailability to confusion and moral opposition among pharmacists, and said the numbers are a cause for concern because Plan B can help prevent unintended pregnancies for women who have been sexually assaulted.
“Our survey found that a lot of the pharmacists had a lot of misinformation,” said Amy Woodell, a statewide organizer for the group, adding that it plans to use the results to educate pharmacists and the public. “I think it was surprising.”
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