More than 2,700prescriptions for emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) were written andfilled by pharmacists in the first 4 months of service.
There are currently more than 100 pharmacies in the state participatingin the Project.
More than 500 pharmacists have completed the required training toprescribe ECPs.
Response to 1-888-NOT-2-LATEHotline
Calls from WashingtonState to the Emergency Contraception Hotline (1-888-NOT-2-LATE) haveincreased tenfold to an average of 1,160 per month since the Project’slaunch in late February of this year. Prior to the Project’s launch, callsfromWashington State averaged about 110 per month.
Increasing Options/User SurveyResults *
50 percent of women saidthat they obtained emergency contraception on a weekend or after 6 p.m. on aweeknight.
42 percent of women reported that if they had not received ECPs directlyfrom a pharmacist they would have taken no action and would have waited tosee if they were pregnant. An additional 16 percent of women didn’t knowwhat they would have done if they could not have gone straight to thepharmacy.
82 percent of women accessing services were between the ages of 18 and35.
86 percent of women had never used ECPs before.
52 percent of women reported contraceptive failure.
57 percent of women reported learning through the media that they couldobtain ECPs directly from a pharmacist.
* (Data collected and analyzed from the first two monthsof service)
Global Impact
The Project has been sosuccessful that many states have shown an interest in replicating it. Inaddition, an organization in England, the Birth Control Trust, recentlycontacted PATH for information about Washington State?s Project. Using theProject as a model, they have come to an agreement to allow pharmacists inEngland to supply ECPs without a doctor?s prescription.