Substance use while pregnant – What is the solution?

No one can deny, the use of substances while pregnant is a hot topic issue, and one that we come across often in the area of Adoption.

This week, Tennessee passed legislation criminalizing substance use during pregnancy, if it causes harm to the baby, or the baby is born addicted. Under the new law, a woman may face assault charges, if her baby is harmed or born addicted to substances. Anyone who has seen a baby withdrawing from substances can attest to the fact that it is distressing to witness. It is obvious the baby is suffering.

Withdrawal symptoms in a newborn are pretty easy to spot, and a positive toxicology screen doesn’t lie. Many babies have to be given morphine to control their pain and may spend many weeks or months being treated for their addictions. The substances we see babies being born addicted to nowadays are not just the stereotypical street drugs. Indeed, some of the substances which cause the worst withdrawals are the benzodiazepines, such as Xanax which is prescribed freely and all too easy to get on prescription.

substance use while pregnant

Research is needed to look at the long-term effects of substance addiction in babies. At the present time, it is unclear what long-term effect these babies will experience. Unlike Thalidomide which caused babies to be born with stunted or missing limbs, babies born addicted to substances usually look completely perfect. The number of babies born addicted may be underestimated, as many hospitals do not drug test mothers and babies as a matter of routine, and this may mean babies are discharged from the hospital before withdrawal symptoms begin to show.

The issue of substance use while pregnant is a complex issue, and one which many legislators do not fully understand. Indeed, it is so complex does anyone really understand? It is argued, criminalizing substance use while pregnant may deter women from seeking prenatal care. What we often see, in the adoption field, is women who use substances often do not seek prenatal care, or they only seek prenatal care late in the pregnancy. It is possible these women purposely avoid Doctor’s offices and blood testing because they fear they may face unwanted legal consequences. They may fear losing custody of their other children, when their drug use is discovered, or, they may be so fixated on feeding their addictions that their health and that of their unborn child is a secondary considerations.

It is clear, babies do need their rights to be protected. As a society, we would have zero tolerance for a mother injecting her baby with heroin, or putting Xanax in their formula. As a society, we don’t want to pay for substance treatment, yet we pay for babies to detox in NICU. Some babies may spend weeks or months being treated in NICU at a far greater expense than treating their addicted mothers would cost. Isn’t it better to treat the problem, and provide substance abuse treatment for pregnant women, if it will help avoid babies being born addicted?

What is obvious is there is a lack of substance treatment centers that cater to pregnant women. The expense of providing treatment options for pregnant women should be weighed against the expense of not providing treatment options for pregnant women. Considering, the majority of babies born addicted to substances are funded by Medicaid, and the cost is picked up by taxpayers, isn’t it better to put this money into treating the addicted mother in the hope of saving her baby from being born addicted and all the suffering that goes along with that?

Tennessee’s new law will expire in 2 years unless it is subsequently extended. The fact the law is being implemented for such a short period of time gives the impression this is more of a social experiment than it is a solution to a problem. As with any social problem, there are more questions than answers.

Florida Adoption Center Can Help

If you’re pregnant and need help, our supporting adoption team here at Florida Adoption Center can help you every step of the way. Reach out today and discover why we believe that love makes a difference.