FDA OKs nonprescription ‘morning-after’ pill
Decision allows over-the-counter sale of Plan B for those 18 or older

The FDA announced it will allow Plan B, the so-called morning after pill, to be sold without a prescription to women 18 or older.
Updated: 11:46 a.m. ET Aug. 24, 2006

WASHINGTON - Women may buy the morning-after pill without a prescription — but only with proof they’re 18 or older, federal health officials decided Thursday. The Food and Drug Administration ruling culminated a contentious three-year effort to ease access to the emergency contraceptive.

Girls 17 and younger still will need a doctor’s note to buy the pills, called Plan B, the FDA told manufacturer Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc.

The compromise decision is a partial victory for women’s advocacy and medical groups which say eliminating sales restrictions could cut in half the nation’s 3 million annual unplanned pregnancies. Opponents have argued that wider access could increase promiscuity.

The long delay had ensnared President Bush’s nominee to head the FDA. On Thursday, two senators said they would lift their blockade, making confirmation of Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach as FDA’s commissioner likely next month.

The pills are a concentrated dose of the same drug found in many regular birth-control pills. Taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, a woman can lower the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent. If she already is pregnant, the pills have no effect.

The earlier it’s taken, the more effective Plan B is. But it can be hard to find a doctor to write a prescription in time, especially on weekends and holidays. Hence the push to allow nonprescription sales.

Barr has said it hopes to begin nonprescription sales of Plan B by the end of the year. The pills will be sold only from behind the counter at pharmacies — so the pharmacist can check photo identification — but not at convenience stores or gas stations.

I am very pro choice but please do not confuse that with “pro abortion” ! Sadly too many people do.
This is not an abortion pill, when used correctly it stops the hormones before the egg even begin creating.
Just think how many women would have taken this pill at just the chance of becoming pregnant instead of waiting and then later aborting. I mean even rape victims alone. 
I don’t understand how any one could see this drug as not a good thing. No matter what side of choice you are on.