NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon : Take Action : Action Alerts

Emergency Birth Control (EBC), also known as the "morning-after" pill, is a second chance at preventing pregnancy. EBC is simply a concentrated dose of the same hormones in ordinary birth-control pills. If taken within 72 hours of sex, EBC is highly effective at preventing pregnancy. EBC is effective up to 120 hours after unprotected sex, but the sooner the better. This medication is especially critical for victims of sexual assault or for women whose primary method of birth control fails.

Although EBC has tremendous potential to help reduce unintended pregnancy, too few Oregonians are aware that contraceptive methods are available that can prevent pregnancy after sex. In order for EBC’s full benefits to be realized, women must have broader access to it, they must use it correctly and they must be educated about the medication’s availability and its effectiveness.

Some pharmacists are unsure about how EBC actually works and give their clients insufficient or misleading information. We want to change that, and we need your help! Do you want to get involved in NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon’s (NPCO) project to make EBC available throughout Oregon, particularly in underserved and rural communities?

Arm yourself with knowledge. Read our fact sheets and information to learn more about Emergency Contraception and how it prevents unintended pregnancy and helps reduce the need for abortion. Then, tell everybody you know.

Did you know that a pharmacist in Oregon cannot refuse to dispense EBC to you without providing information about where you can get it? If you know a pharmacist who does not provide women with information about where to get EBC, we want to know about it. Contact our EBC project coordinator, Kari. Help us make sure that EBC is available and that women are getting accurate information about this essential medication.

How can you help?

Make EBC part of the conversation. Talk to your friends about this important contraceptive option. Make it water-cooler or latte conversation. Tell your friends, family members and acquaintances that they can have EBC available in their medicine cabinet without a prescription. Bring it up to your physician, nurse, or gynecologist.

It is essential to remember that our approach with pharmacists and healthcare providers is collaborative and non-confrontational.

You can make a difference where you live – you can help improve access to Plan B! We know that you probably don’t have a lot of extra time, so we have created a menu of options for you to consider. Some of these will be easy to incorporate into your busy life, while others are tailored to those who are able to become more involved. Options are:

Ask your local pharmacist if they stock EBC in their pharmacy and then tell us about it.

· If your pharmacist does not stock EBC, ask why. Urge them to learn more and make this medication available.

· Start a local campaign to increase access in your community.

Join us by starting an EBC Access Task Force in your community, then spread awareness of EBC at community events and local gathering spots.
Thank pharmacists who do stock EBC.
Tell us your wonderful stories and your challenges as well.
Provide our informational packet to your local pharmacist so that they can be aware of all the up-to-date information about EBC and guidelines to dispensing it. Tell us about the experience.
Write a Letter to the Editor –Using individualized local information helps. Start a letter-writing group with your friends to make sure that EBC has a place in local news.
Volunteer with us! We would love to have your help on our campaign. Help includes data entry, phone banking and tabling. You can make a difference.

To get involved and/or request any of our materials, please contact Kari 503-223-4510, ext. 18.