As of July 1st, 2023, most abortions that occur after 12 weeks of pregnancy are illegal in the state of North Carolina. This law will have multiple effects on the state such as decreased availability of OB-GYNs and changes in the sex education curriculum. The law also entails the requirement of an in-person consultation at least 72 hours before one’s abortion occurs. Since North Carolina was one of the southern states with more relaxed abortion policies both previous to and after this law, those who travel from out of the state now have to stay for multiple days in order to get their abortion. The fees of hotels and travel are very costly for many, so therefore this makes abortion even more inaccessible. 

As expected, abortion rates have quickly decreased due to the new law. Since July, abortion rates have dropped by over 30% in North Carolina and 7% across the country. Many states have already made this change or similar changes to their abortion laws, and the consequences are very clear. For example, the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) has seen a nationwide decline in OB-GYN residencies of about 5% caused by fear of losing medical licenses or being charged with a crime. In the next few years, it is likely that this trend will continue and that the classroom curriculum in regard to abortion education will be altered. 

Green Level students were asked how they felt about this new law, and one student said, “I feel disgusted that we went backward, and that a woman’s rights on her body and her right to choose are no longer hers.” Another student voiced their opinion and stated, “I do not support it. I find it to be a violation of a woman’s rights to have the government controlling her body, and the government should not be deciding what circumstances allow for a woman to or not to carry a child.”