My house mate Thérèse recently conducted a simple little social experiment on emergency contraception in the Mississippi Delta. She called three CVS pharmacies just to see if they had EC available as part of her student health initiative. Here are the phone calls that took place. Interesting.

CVS Greenville

Thérèse: Do you fill prescriptions for emergency contraception?
Pharmacist: Huh?
Thérèse: Errrr...the morning after pill?
Pharmacist: No.
(End of conversation)

CVS Cleveland

Thérèse: Hi, I just have a quick question.
Receptionist: Yes?
Thérèse: Does your pharmacy fill prescriptions for the morning after pill?
Receptionist: What?
Thérèse: Do you fill prescriptions for the morning after pill?
Receptionist: WHAT?
Thérèse: The morning after pill?
Receptionist: Let me get the pharmacist.
Thérèse: Okay . . .
Pharmacist: Yes?
Thérèse: Do you fill prescriptions for emergency contraception . . . the morning after pill?
Pharmacist : We don't carry that in stock.
Thérèse: Thanks.
(End of conversation)

CVS Greenwood

Thérèse: Good morning. I have a quick question.
Pharmacist: Yes?
Thérèse: Do you carry or fill prescriptions for the morning after pill?
Pharmacist: Huh?
Thérèse: The morning after pill?
Pharmacist: What?
Thérèse: The morning after pill. Does your pharmacy fill prescriptions for the morning after pill . . . you know . . . emergency contraception?
Pharmacist: Huh?
Thérèse: THE MORNING AFTER PILL.
Pharmacist: Oh, the morning after pill. Let me put you on with someone else.
(annoying hold music)
Pharmacist 2: Hello?
Thérèse: Hi. Yes, I have a quick question. Does your pharmacy fill prescriptions for the morning after pill?
Pharmacist 2: We don't have any political objections to that.
Thérèse: Okay.
Pharmacist 2: I mean, we have filled it in the past.
Thérèse: Okay.
Pharmacist 2: So, we have no political objection ... but we don't carry any in stock. Doctors here don't prescribe that, so we don't carry it. You know, supply and demand.
Thérèse: Right.
Pharmacist 2: I mean we can always order it and it would be here in a day or two. We have no policy against that.
Thérèse: Okay. Thanks. You've been helpful.
(End of conversation)

EC is most effective if taken within 24 hours and becomes ineffective after 72 hours. Luckily, CVS Greenwood could get it in a day or two.