Emergency contraceptives to be made available

Student government is launching pilot program to provide free, low-cost pills

The University of Colorado’s student government unanimously passed a bill this week to launch a pilot program that would fund and supply free and subsidized emergency contraceptives on campus.

The program, a year in the making and based off a similar program offered in New York City schools, intends to provide free emergency contraceptive medication at the university’s Wardenburg Health Center pharmacy and sell contraceptives for a few dollars at several food and convenience store locations throughout campus, according to the legislation.

Unintended pregnancies are highest in women age 18 to 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nimisha Mallela, the CU Student Government’s health and safety chief, said the program was created to combat those statistics.

Emergency contraceptive pills are available through the university pharmacy, Mallela said, but can cost as much as $50.

“College students already have a lot of financial struggles, so being able to afford this was incredibly important,” Mallela said.

Emergency contraceptive pills can prevent pregnancy by blocking or delaying ovulation, and do not induce an abortion, according to the World Health Organization.

Funding for the program is being reallocated from a previous, underutilized initiative that purchased bicycle helmets for students, said Zeron Lawson, a CU senior and spokesman for the student government.

About $6,000 is being earmarked for the pilot program, the legislation said.

Two forms of emergency contraceptives will be offered through the program: the Mckesson and Ella emergency contraceptive pills.

According to Planned Parenthood, emergency contraceptives can cost $15 to $50, depending on the brand.

Students taking the free medication from the university’s pharmacy must show proof of student identification to receive the contraceptives.

The pilot program is scheduled to kick off in late spring and will be monitored for efficacy, Lawson said.

“This is a huge step in the right direction for advocating for reproductive rights and health care,” Lawson said. “There’s a huge stigma around the use of it and it’s hard to access for people that might not have the financial means.”