Despite a consistent decline in abortion over the last decade, a new report from the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI), the research arm of the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List), reveals that abortions increased by nearly two percent from 2017 to 2018 in the United States, in large part due to the increased availability of chemical abortions (the abortion pill).
“Use of the dangerous chemical abortion pill regimen has exploded within the abortion industry,” said Tessa Longbons, CLI research associate and author of the new report. “This method of abortion surged upward by nine percent between 2017 and 2018, making up 41 percent of total abortions in 2018 alone.”
While abortion rates slightly increased overall in the 38 states where the data is available, 50,000 to 60,000 lives were saved from abortion in states that place restrictions on abortion compared to those with more permissive laws. Twenty-three states reported an increase in abortion numbers while 15 states reported a decline in abortion rates. In pro-life states, abortion increased by less than one percent. However, in states in which abortion is largely unrestricted, the abortion rate increased by more than four percent.
The percentages may seem like small changes, but they translate into real human lives. In states that restrict abortion, 2,100 more abortions were committed while in abortion-friendly states, the abortions increased by about 5,400.
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“This preliminary analysis of 2018 data reveals an important distinction between states that more readily permit abortion versus states that are protective of life,” explained CLI President Chuck Donovan. “The recent increase in abortion, though cause for concern and vigilance, does not undo the critical progress made in advancing protections for unborn babies and their mothers across the nation over the past decade. Between 2009 and 2018, abortions dropped by 18 percent. Due to inconsistencies in abortion reporting or lack of reporting from certain states, it is difficult to determine how this 2018 data will impact the societal landscape. However, this first look at available data is an important reminder of the progress the pro-life movement has made so far.”
Illinois saw an increase of more than 1,000 abortions from 2017 to 2018, and according to CLI, the state has become more agreeable to abortion in the past year, removing pro-life regulations that helped women choose life. In addition, Illinois began to fund elective abortions and saw an increase in publicly-funded abortions.
In 33 states, the number of chemical abortions increased by nine percent while surgical abortions decreased by three percent. The abortion pill accounted for 39% of all abortions in 2017 and 41% of all abortions in 2018. Now being marketed as a quick and easy “at home” abortion, the abortion pill is easier than ever to access. However, it is also about four times more dangerous than a first-trimester surgical abortion.
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