Risks Of Expectant Mothers

Drug and alcohol addictions are illnesses that require some type of effective treatment to overcome them. I believe that women don’t intentionally expose their fetuses to drug or alcohol abuse, but if it happens, I believe the problem needs to be identified and addressed immediately because obviously there is a problem. In my opinion, I believe that women should be punished for exposing their fetuses to drug and alcohol abuse. The fetuses are innocent and shouldn’t have to suffer on the ignorance of their mother. I think that treatment should be offered and monitored frequently. If the program is not followed by the pregnant woman, then she should not be allowed the opportunity to raise the child until she has proven that she will provide a

When women conceive a baby, immediately, thousands of responsibilities are placed in her hands. Whether you want to have a human being to take care of or not, you will, with no other choice. Say, a women becomes pregnant and truthfully cannot afford a child, that situation does not matter. If living on the streets is necessary, then she should take the initiative and do so. If drugs are merely

It is my opinion that punishing these women for addictive behavior is not the answer, especially when considering the severe overcrowding of the prison system nationwide and the strain on the economy already caused by this. My own view is that addiction not a crime, but is a disease and needs to be treated as such. These women don’t become pregnant and then become addicts, but they are addicts who become pregnant. The American Public Health Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the March of Dimes and the American Medical Association, -- are all against punishing addicted pregnant women. Treating addicted, pregnant women and their babies can create many complicated issues, both legally and ethically. In states where reporting the drug use of the pregnant woman is mandated, many are concerned about the significant negative outcome that might be

Drug-addicted women are the stakeholders in this dilemma. Drug-addicted or former drug-addicted women are being pressured into thinking that controlling their fertility is the only way in which to not be considered a horrible person or bad mothers. No one should be allowed to try to persuade women to give up their reproductive rights. Just because some women choose to use drugs or alcohol does not mean that they are not responsible enough to make proper health or parenting decisions on their own, they especially do not need monetary incentives to make sound decisions. “Evidence suggests that women who use drugs do not need to be paid to limit or end their fertility” (Olsen, 2014). Preferably, programs should try to minimize the barriers that these women have to face in order to obtain information. Organizations should be non-discriminating and non judgmental towards women’s reproductive health.

Since the 1980’s, debate about how society should deal with the problem of criminalizing pregnant women who abuse drugs or alcohol has become a nationwide issue. Many states argue that the primary concern is making sure women have healthy pregnancies and healthy children. However, policies that threaten women with criminal prosecution and the potential loss of parental rights drive women away from pregnancy-related care. Constitutionally, enacting states to create these laws is unsound and places women in situations of risk. Less than a week ago a bill was sent to the governor of Tennessee after being approved by both the house and the senate, that would allow for women to be prosecuted if she takes an illegal drugs while pregnant. Although this bill is made to seem like it is promoting healthy pregnancies, many groups are urging the governor to veto it.

In the United States, we have a culture that accepts the use of some substances over others, regardless of the negative affects of the “acceptable” drugs. For instance, it is socially acceptable to drink alcohol, eat sugar, and, while no longer as in vogue, smoke cigarettes. From a public health standpoint, these substances are also dangerous and can have debilitating affects on both children and adults. What is more, while narcotics use during pregnancy can lead to NAS at birth, there has been no conclusive evidence of lasting negative effects across the lifespan (Goldensohn & Levy, 2014; Miller, 2015). However, the use of other substances, such as alcohol, can be devastating and carry much more risk, leading some reporters to believe that the law has more to do with the people using these substances than the substances themselves (Todd, 2014). In any case, the punishment of mothers who suffer from addiction when they should be receiving support and treatment is a large moral failing on the part of policymakers. Arguments around whether the woman should be held responsible for her addiction overlook possible systemic barriers that led to her substance use as well as the fact that drug addiction is a treatable illness (Todd, 2014). In creating and invoking this law, policymakers are essentially turning their backs on some of the most vulnerable people in our society, expectant mothers, and using their resulting arrests as evidence of corrupt principles, deserving of punishment and

In today’s society people are talking about babies being born to drugs, and how could a mother do that to their unborn child. Drug addiction is a very serious issue that needs more research. We are still learning the effects of substance abuse. One problem that needs to be looked at is are there enough Rehabilitation Centers, to help the women who are addicted to these different street drugs. Also doctor and nurses should not judge these women but instead give them the best prenatal care that can be provided. We need to see what harm and side affects it has on the mother and baby, so that we can be able to understand better how to treat these women and get them off drugs before they do harm their babies.

The American Medical Association and other leading medical groups have concluded that drugs and alcohol addictions are diseases that should be treated not punished. Federal and states experts have concluded that there is no evidence that the threat of jail succeeds in reducing drug use and improve birth outcomes. Instead, there is evidence that it frightens women away from prenatal care and drug treatment that can be helpful for these women and their future babies.

The rationality of those who support the punishment of addicted mothers focus on the idea that maternal conduct could lead to potential detrimental effects upon the fetus and that prosecution of such behavior would serve as both retribution for the fetus and as a deterrent. Whereas those who advocate for the pregnant women view this rational as not only impermissible but also unconstitutional as in current legal standing the fetus has no rights that usurp those of the pregnant woman (Stone-Manista, 2009, pp.823-856). Advocates also suggests that the breadth of forces that lead to drug use in pregnant women have a prevalent cultural and social foundation that the proponents for deterrence and retribution ignore in favor of strict scrutiny. This conflict between women’s rights and fetal rights has caused a paradigm in the prosecution of pregnant drug users as the interpretation of criminal sanctions argues over the definition of ‘child’ as encompassing fetuses in the definition would then lay the foundation for punishment for a woman’s conduct during pregnancy (Stone-Magnets, 2009, pp.823-856). Though currently it is unconstitutional and legally impermissible to prosecute women with state child abuse statutes in regards to drug use during pregnancy; advocates of fetal rights continue to follow

Using legal drugs is not a criminal offense. I think this rational should be applied to women universally, pregnant or not. Prosecuting pregnant women does not help the mother or the child. As aforementioned, I believe education is the best tool to combat legal drug use that could possibly harm an unborn child. The implications of prosecution on the social and emotional welfare of the mother and unborn child should be taken into account with this.

Many women, including teens, abuse drugs while they are pregnant. This rate is especially high to those who are homeless, underprivileged, or live in a broken home. In order for drug abusers to even have a chance at beating their addiction they have to have support whether it’s family, friends, or boyfriend/spouse. They must also let the abuser now all the consequences to themselves and the unborn child. There are many consequences when using drugs during pregnancy such as miscarriage, health risks to baby, and health risks to the mother. And learning disabilities and brain damage to the fetus.

In my opinion I definitely think that it should be illegal to smoke, drink, or take drugs while pregnant because they are threatening the health of the child for a selfish reason. If they wouldn't give the child drugs, alcohol, a cigarette, etc. when they are born why would they think it's okay to use these harmful things while pregnant? I can't stand seeing videos or documentaries of babies that have been born addicted to drugs and shaking uncontrollably, it's just so sad. There are so many health risks to the babies that can come from drugs, alcohol, or smoking and I think that it is very selfish of the mother who would willingly cause harm to her child and that if they do any of the things mentioned that they should be held responsible for

One day, my teacher taught us something that would forever keep me from holding a cigarette. He exclaimed that the person smoking the cigarette is less likely to be harmed than the person breathing in the excess smoke coming from the tobacco. Of course, that was a lot to put on a third grader, but it always made me more aware when walking by a person smoking. Drugs and alcohol affect not only the person doing them, but others around them. As I spoke to Christina Andro, she told me about the effects smoking or drinking can have on a pregnant woman, “Babies that are open to the harmful toxins of drugs and alcohol due to their mother smoking or drinking during pregnancy can be addicted before they are even born. Fetal alcohol syndrome is the most common effect.” (Andro. Personal Interview.) It’s sad to think something that could be avoided could help so many people and children. That’s why prohibition is so important, it could keep so many kids from going down a more painful path, and it gives them a chance to live a successful life. A young boy named Dean had a mother when he was a child that had a severe alcohol and drug addiction. As he grew older, his mother started influencing him more and more to do things. It eventually led him to take to the streets. He got into many gangs and fights, and eventually he became an addict himself. It was the only

In the given article, “Many Afghans Lost to Hazards Of Childbirth”, the issue is thought to be caused by the current lack of medical care in the country. However, I believe that this situation will not change to a higher standard unless the people themselves change their ways.

I think that a baby’s health should always be put first. Women should not be able to use drugs and alcohol during pregnancy even though it takes away some of their freedom. Restricting alcohol from mothers during pregnancy would not just be beneficial to the baby, but themselves as well. Mothers should not be able to ruin their baby’s health with their irresponsible actions. A baby’s life should not be made harder before they are even born. Things are tough enough without serious mental and physical conditions.