Drug Abuse by Pregnant Women

Drug Abuse and Pregnant Women

Proposed Title for the paper: Using for Two: Pregnancy and Drug Abuse

The broad paper topic is drug abuse by pregnant women. However, a narrower focus for this paper will deal with the physical and psychological effects on the fetus (and the child) that are associated with drug abuse during pregnancy. The paper will also address the efficacy of various proposed solutions, including treatment methods, sociological and philosophical implications, and criminal justice approaches as well.

Because drug abuse by pregnant women can lead to the infant developing severe medical problems, learning and emotional disabilities later in life, and can be potentially fatal, the Federal Government and Child Protection Services should acknowledge that drug abuse by pregnant women is a form of child abuse.

The Federal Government and Child Protection Services should acknowledge that drug abuse by pregnant women is akin to child abuse because an innocent victim's life is at stake: the infant may develop severe medical problems, learning and emotional disabilities, and possible death.

4. The problem that will be discussed in this paper is the lack of clear public policy regarding drug use by pregnant women. The medical and psychiatric effects of drug abuse on the infant have been clearly established, and will be discussed at length in the paper. An examination of past and current approaches to pregnant drug abusers will also be provided. These will include philosophical issues like feminist approaches as well as more hard-lined criminal justice approaches to drug abuse by pregnant women. However, because drug abuse has such severe and long-term effects on the infant, I assert that pregnant mothers should be considered to be child abusers, just as beating children or neglecting them is considered child abuse in the eyes of the law.

5. Statement of limitations: Most of the available literature deals with either the medical and psychiatric effects of drug abuse on the infant or with addiction treatment; there aren't many sources that address drug abuse by pregnant women as being a source of child abuse. Therefore, finding adequate source material could pose a significant problem for this research.

6. Definition of terms: Child Abuse: any physical or emotional mistreatment of a child. Addiction: A compulsive psychological and physiological drive to overuse a substance to a point where it interferes with daily life, rationality, and normal functioning. Drug: For the purposes of this paper, drugs will not include medically assigned pharmaceuticals given to the mother but rather will include the use of illicit substances like crack and cocaine as well as legal but harmful substances like alcohol and tobacco.

7. Time Plan: Work will be completed on December 11. Included will be the cover sheet, abstract, table of contents, figures, tables, and a Works Cited

List of Sources:

Andersen, Kathryn, et. al. "Treatment Compliance Among Prenatal Care Patients with Substance Abuse Problems." American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. May 2001. (Journal Article, Multiple Authors).

Blume, Sheila B. "The Criminalization of Alcohol and Other Drug Use in Pregnancy." From What You Can Do To Prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. (Book Section, Single Author).

Drabble, Laurie. "Elements of Effective Services for Women in Recovery: Implications for Clinicians and Program Supervisors." In Chemical Dependency: Women at Risk. Ed. By Underhill, Brenda and Finnegan, Dana. (Article in Book, Single Author).

Ettorre, Elizabeth. "A Feminist Response to Substance Abuse." Women and Substance Use. (Book Chapter, Single Author).

Hiatt, Jill, and Dinsmore, Janet. "A Criminal Justice Approach is Justified." Born Hooked: Poisoned in the Womb. Ed. By Gary McCuen. (Article in Book, Multiple Authors).

Murphy, Sheigla and Rosenbaum, Marsha. Cahpter 6: "Not Good Enough to Be Pregnant." Pregnant Women on Drugs. (Book Chapter, Multiple Authors).

Kandall, Stephen R. Chapter 11: "Today and Tomorrow." Substance and Shadow. (Book Chapter, Single Author).

Leopold, Beate, and Steffan, Elfriede. Special Needs of Children of Drug Misusers. Report from the Council of Europe (Consultant's Report, Multiple Authors).

Mick, Eric, et. al. "Case Control Study of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Maternal Smoking, Alcohol Use, and Drug Use During Pregnancy." Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. April 2002. Journal Article, Multiple Authors).

Pajulo, Marjaterttu, et. al. "Maternal Substance Abuse: Infant Psychiatric Interest: A Review and a Hypothetical Model of Interaction." From American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Oct. 1999. (Journal Article, Multiple Authors).

Priest, Judy, and Attawell, Kathy. Chapter 14: "Street Drugs and Pregnancy." Drugs in Conception, Pregnancy and Childbirth. (Book Chapter; Multiple Authors).

Outline

I. Fetuses and infants who are exposed to drugs while in the womb can experience a wide range of detrimental, even fatal effects.

A. Medical effects of drug abuse on children are extensive, including the following:

1. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

2. Infant addiction to substances like heroin.

3. Side effects associated from the withdrawal from those substances.

4. Low birth weight.

B. Psychiatric effects are as severe as the physiological effects, including:

1. ADHD

2. Learning disabilities

3. Emotional maladjustment.

C. The harmful effects of drug abuse on the infant can last a lifetime.

D. Death can result from the pregnant mother using drugs.

II. The effects of drug abuse on the infant are similar to the effects of child abuse.

A. Child abuse by the parent encompasses a wide range of harmful practices.

1. Sexual abuse.

2. Physical assault.

3. Gross or deliberate neglect.

4. Mental or emotional abuse.

B. Because drug abuse induces incredible harm on the fetus and the infant, potentially scarring him or her physically, emotionally, and mentally for life, drug abuse by pregnant mothers is akin to child abuse.