Early this year, the FDA approved a protocol to allow manufacturer-certified pharmacies to dispense the medication abortion drug mifepristone directly to patients with a prescription. Previously, the pills could be dispensed only by a certified health care provider and were not available through a retail pharmacy. However, three-quarters of adults surveyed have not heard anything in the news about the decision, including nearly 8 in 10 women under age 50.

In the 13 states with full abortion bans, including for medication abortion, most adults either wrongly believe that medical abortion is legal in their state (13%) or are unsure about whether it is legal (47%). Four in 10 adults living in states with full abortion bans are aware that medication abortion is illegal in their state.
In states where abortion is legal, fewer than half are aware that medication abortion is legal there. A similar number are unsure whether medication abortion is legal in their state, while 1 in 10 incorrectly believe medication abortion is not legal in their state.

More than 9 in 10 U.S. adults have heard of the morning-after pill (or Plan B), and 62% who have heard of it are aware that the pills are not the same as the abortion pill. Nonetheless, nearly three-fourths, including two-thirds of women of childbearing age, incorrectly believe that emergency contraceptive pills can end a pregnancy in its early stages.

Instant Insights /

Many women unsure about availability of medication abortion, emergency contraception in their state

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