By the end of the year, students will be able to buy Plan B, the controversial day-after pill, over-the-counter at the Amelia T. Wood Student Health Center Pharmacy.
The Food and Drug Administration gave its approval in September for the emergency contraception to be sold over-the-counter.
Plan B contraception is a backup method of birth control. According to the FDA, the birth control is in the form of two leveonorgestrel pills and the pills are taken by mouth after unprotected sex. -á
The product is at the manufacturer getting repackaged with instructions and a list of side effects, pharmacy manager Lee Rhea said. "We'll get it whenever the packaging is approved," he said. "We were told it'd be around November."
The pharmacy has not received any questions or concerns from students yet, but Rhea said he expects it will once more students learn the pill will be sold over-the-counter.
The pill has been heavily debated for several years. Some people believe it could be ending the life of an unborn child, as the woman could be pregnant before taking the pill. Others do not believe it will kill a child because they feel it takes more than a day for a life to be created.
Even though there has been a debate over whether the emergency contraception should be sold over-the-counter, Rhea said he does not have a personal opinion on the issue.
"If it's safe and effective for the public, then it should be approved," he said.
Health Center Director Kent Bullis said making the contraceptive available over-the-counter is a good thing.
"A lot of people think it's wrong for women to take birth control at all, and Plan B is just another form of birth control," he said. "My personal opinion is that it's good for women to have a choice. I don't think society should make the choice for women."
Bullis said he does not have any concerns about giving women the contraceptive without writing a prescription.
"I think it's a good thing to get rid of the barriers," he said. "It's very safe, and there's very little risk in taking the pill. A small percentage of women get nauseous. That's the only side effect we see."
The number of pills the Health Center gives out will probably increase once it is available over-the-counter, Bullis said.
Last spring, Bullis said, the pharmacy sold Plan B for $25, Rhea said he did not know how much it will cost over-the-counter, as it depends on how much it costs the pharmacy to carry it.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
