Obviously, millions of people are still reeling from last week’s SCOTUS decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Reactions and next steps have run the gamut, including some who have turned to panic-buying emergency contraception purchases. Based on the decision and the threat to birth control clearly laid out in Clarence Thomas’s concurring opinion, it makes sense that people would try to stockpile these pills. But, this has led pharmacies like CVS and Rite Aid to set limits on Plan B purchases for now, only three per customer temporarily to “ensure equitable access.” This also makes sense.
CVS and Rite Aid are setting a limit on emergency contraception purchases following a surge in demand since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Both retailers are currently capping purchases of Plan B One-Step, also known as the “morning after” pill, to three per customer.
A spokesperson for CVS told PEOPLE in a statement that following the Supreme Court decision, the retailer saw “saw a sharp increase in the sale of emergency contraceptives and implemented a temporary purchase limit to ensure equitable access.”
However, the drug store expects to lift the purchase limits within the next 24 hours.
“Sales have since returned to normal and we’re in the process of removing the purchase limits, which will take effect in-store and on CVS.com over the next 24 hours,” the spokesperson added. “We continue to have ample supply of emergency contraceptives to meet customer needs.”
Rite Aid also said it would also limit the purchases of emergency contraception due to “increased demand,” PEOPLE confirmed.
“At this time we are limiting purchases of Plan B contraceptive pills to three per customer,” Catherine Carter, manager of external communications for Rite Aid, said.
On Tuesday, a Walgreens spokesperson told PEOPLE that the retailer was not currently capping purchases of emergency contraception.
“We do not have Plan B purchase limits at this time,” the spokesperson said. “Walgreens is still able to meet demand in-store, including leveraging digital-first solutions like curbside pickup. At this time, we are working to restock online inventory for ship-to-home.”
The surge in demand for emergency contraception comes after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday which eliminated the constitutional right to privacy that protects abortion.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, emergency contraception “reduces the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse.”
Emergency contraception can be used after “forgetting to take several birth control pills in a row, having a condom break or slip off, or not using a birth control method during sex. It also can be used after a woman has been raped,” according to the organization.
The headline is a bit alarming, but this is actually the right move on the retailers part. The people panic-buying are probably thinking of the future, without abortion access, and needing a morning after pill. However, they’re not thinking about the person who needs one tomorrow and will be unable to get one due to the panic-buying. I know that Walgreens did the same purchase limit thing with home covid tests around the holidays. When I finally found a store that had them in stock, I could only purchase two; and I recall feeling very resentful when a friend told me a story about going to as many stores as possible in their area and getting as many as possible so they could test every day over Christmas break, while I struggled to find a test and thought I might have to miss Christmas. And that was just one holiday, not a lifetime. I do hope that the people panic-buying and hoarding these pills are doing it out of selfishness and not greed. This made me think of early days of the pandemic when people who could get their hands on masks and sanitizers bought up as many as possible and then price-gouged the hell out of others to make a profit. I really hope people aren’t planning to do the same with these pills, but I’m sure people are. Also, these pills expire after about four years, so people buying now for later might want to check that as well.
Hopefully this signals the manufacturers of these medications that they need to ramp up production, if they haven’t already.
THE WEIGHT LIMIT ON PLAN B IS 155 lbs WOMEN NEED TO KNOW THIS. THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS. JUST BE AWARE.
Yes. But also just to clarify – there are no weight limits on the abortion pills themselves!
Yes. Abortion and reproductive orgs are urging people not to stockpile these things for these precise reasons. I can understand the fear and panic though. This whole situation is horrifying.
I agree. Smart move on their part! Remember panic buying toilet paper?? Some of us needed it!
It’s an f’n outrage that Manchin and Sinema care more about the filibuster than half the nation’s rights. Women should not have to stockpile contraception.
There are so many outrages. Like I commented on another post, it’s an outrage that the only thing anyone did to prepare for this was pass a bill for increased security for the justices who have decided to endanger the rest of the population to an unbelievable degree.
That lawmakers who don’t even understand basic menstruation get to decide peoples’ medical futures. That now medical decisions will be left up to the hospital attorneys and most decisions will now be made in order to protect from liability than to save lives.
McConnell, Manchin, Sinema, and the justices who voted to overturn have blood on their hands. They don’t care at all, either.
My only hope is that some people bought many with the intention of donating them to individuals who can’t afford it, or don’t have easy access to it, etc.
I didn’t even think about this when the ruling came down, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I think I should maybe pick up one or two the next time I’m in CVS getting my prescriptions.