Pregnant Substance Abuse Essay

Substance abuse amongst women who are of the childbearing ages has risen in the United States, in fact substance abuse is much higher in this age group than with any other age group. While this is a problem within itself already, the problem worsens when a woman who was already abusing drugs gets pregnant. It should be assumed that taking drugs during a pregnancy is extremely dangerous, not only to the fetus but also to the mother. Pregnancy is proven to be harsh on the mother’s body, but when illicit substances are added to the equation there is a different set of complications involved. The purpose of this paper is to inform the general public of the dangers of drug use while bearing a child, to persuade expectant mothers to discontinue substance abuse if any exists, and to expose lack of
Whether it be a formal facility or bi weekly check ins with her doctor. There are very treatment programs specifically designed to treat pregnant substance abusers. Slowly but surely states are creating and/or funding these types of programs. Despite the high prevalence of pregnant substance abusers there are very few states with policies in place that punish/ criminalize the mothers of these babies who are being effected by drug abuse. So far Tennessee is the first and only state that has made substance abuse during a pregnancy a criminal act.
The issue of convicting women who are/were pregnant substance abusers has been long debated.Society is confused as to how to deal with this issue, only one state allows assault charges to be filed on a pregnant who abuses substances. Eighteen states see substance abuse while pregnant as child abuse, but only three states consider it grounds for civil commitment. Eighteen states requires doctors report suspected abuse, four require doctors to test for prenatal drug exposure if they suspect