The recent decision by Walgreens to carry chemical abortion pills should concern anyone with a vested interest in the future of the company. This move reveals two very important things about their priorities and decision-making process.
First, health is no longer their top priority.
If it were, there would be no question that these life-ending drugs would be kept out of our community pharmacies. Families across the nation turn to these corner drug stores for items which help them sustain life — vitamins, cough syrup, prescriptions — and yet the explicit purpose of chemical abortion pills is to take life.
Additionally, these drugs have been shown to expose women to injury, infertility, domestic abuse, and death. Yet despite this, the company announced in early January that they intend to become a certified pharmacy to carry these deadly pills in light of policy changes at the Food and Drug Administration. When they said, “sign me up,” they proved to be anti-health sellouts, willing to end life for profit.
How fitting that Walgreens has dropped “the corner of happy and healthy” as their slogan. However, their new advertising motto “Trusted Since 1901” seems misplaced as well.
Second, the leadership at Walgreens continues to display terrible business judgment.
With the public unable to trust them for life-affirming care, consumers should also be worried about trusting them with their money.
It’s hard to believe the higher-ups at Walgreens have forgotten the consequences of reckless distribution of dangerous drugs — namely opioids —as the settlement of lawsuits brought against them in this matter totals nearly $6 billion. This sum will payout to various states over 10 years’ time, and one would think that a decade-long sentence for reckless distribution of deadly drugs would teach Walgreens a thing or two.
However, the potential for chemical abortion pills to be a moneymaker seems to have once again clouded their judgment. The company seems intent on carrying these drugs regardless of the proven, potential risks for women, which include emotional and physical trauma, extreme pain, and undetected ectopic pregnancies (which can cause fertility issues and maternal death). One study even shows how from 2002 to 2015 the danger of women going to the emergency room following a chemical abortion has gone up by 500%.
These risks all translate into potential lawsuits by hurt and angry customers. That is, however, if Walgreens isn’t taken to court by a state attorney general first.
As The Daily Wire recently reported, 20 state attorneys general have warned both Walgreens and CVS that it is a violation of state and federal laws to send chemical abortion pills via the mail and warned of future action if they proceed. Their letter, signed by attorneys general from as far as Alaska to Florida, reads:
“Abortion pills carry the added risk that when these heightened complications invariably occur, women suffer those harms at home, away from medical help … and finally, mail-order abortion pills also invite the horror of an increase in coerced abortions. … We emphasize that it is our responsibility as State Attorneys General to uphold the law and protect the health, safety, and well-being of women and unborn children in our states. Part of that responsibility includes ensuring that companies like yours are fully informed of the law so that harm does not come to our citizens.”
If Walgreens thinks they can mitigate legal concerns, perhaps they will find consumer anger something to consider.
Alongside local and national pro-life leaders, Students for Life of America is hosting a “Cancel Abortion Cartels” event on February 14 at the Walgreens Headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois, to protest the company’s unloving decision toward vulnerable women and preborn children. This is the kick-off to our National Day of Protest on March 4 where we’ll be mobilizing at local pharmacies across the country, and as part of our efforts, we will encourage people to send Valentine’s Day cards, urging those who run these businesses across the country to “Love them Both,” both mother and child, but a little love for their customers won’t hurt either.
Whether you are a pro-lifer, a citizen concerned for women’s safety, or an investor hoping your stock won’t tank, all are welcome to join us in demanding that Walgreens opt out of selling these dangerous chemical abortion pills.
Caroline S. Wharton is a Staff Writer & Press Strategist for Students for Life of America and Students for Life Action.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.