Premium Essay

Addicted Pregnant Women

In: Social Issues

Submitted By felicia2
Words 1058
Pages 5
Thesis Statement: Drug addicted pregnant women are being treated as criminals instead of women who suffers from a disease of addiction.

The underlying issues of drug addicted pregnant women have been overlooked by society for many years. Society believes that these women should be thrown in jail and treated as criminals. Despite the fact that drug addiction has now been declared as an official disease by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Numerous studies have been made in regards to the dilemma that surrounds drug addicted pregnant women. The dilemma argues the point; do these women show any concern for their unborn child, or if their intent is to harm the child. Drug addiction by definition is a condition characterized by an overwhelming desire to continue taking a drug to which one has become habituated through repeated consumption because it produces a particular effect, usually an alteration of mental status. Addiction is usually accompanied by a compulsion to obtain the drug, a tendency to increase the dose, a psychological or physical dependence, and detrimental consequences for the individual and society (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 2001).
The underlying issues of drug addicted pregnant women have been examined by a number of authors who attempted to expose the truth behind why these women are reluctant to seek prenatal care. According to Carolyn S. Carter (2002), in her article she explored societal responses to prenatal drug abuse, including stigmatic attitudes and behaviors of healthcare workers that are directed toward women who abuse drugs during pregnancy. She found that healthcare providers’ stigmatic responses can deter women from receiving prenatal care and place women and their unborn children at risk (Carter, C. 2002). Because poor women and women of color face a greater probability of being prosecuted or losing custody of their

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Drug Addiction and Pregnancy

...pregnancy was the topic found to be most interesting. Estimates based on court documents, news accounts, and data collected by attorneys representing pregnant women indicate that at least 200 women in more than thirty states have been arrested and criminally charged for their alleged drug use or other actions during pregnancy (Moore, 2010). Should pregnant women struggling with drug addiction be criminally prosecuted? This is a controversial subject that arguments from both sides presented valid points. There were articles found to support women with their addictions as well as others that were for prosecuting these individuals. Proponents of incarcerating pregnant women that use drugs believe that they are promoting fetal health and protecting children (Bradley, 2011). Some believe that if a pregnant woman knows she will be prosecuted for delivering a drug addicted baby, they may seek help to avoid having her child taken away from her (Szazbo, 2012). The problem with this idea is that if the women would like to have treatment, the facilities to accommodate them do not exist. This is a problem that has been identified as needing to be corrected, but the resources are not available and support for these services is very limited. Advocates state that the fetus is protected from the effects of drugs by removing the pregnant women from their drug environment giving the mother the necessary treatment for their addiction (Hulsey, 2008). Those against prosecuting these individuals...

Words: 783 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Hsm 542

...“Should Pregnant Woman Be Punished For Exposing Her Fetus To Risk” Chandra Beasley Keller Graduate School of Management HSM542 September 16, 2014 Michelle Gomillion “Should A Pregnant Woman Be Punished For Exposing Her Fetus To Risk” When a woman becomes pregnant, it is very important for her to lead a healthy life to eat plenty of nourishing food, get plenty of rest, and exercise regularly. It is also vital that she avoid anything that might harm her or her baby-to-be. For a pregnant woman, drug abuse is doubly dangerous. According to (daily news, 2010) one hundred babies are born with drug withdrawal symptoms every month. Some drugs can directly impair prenatal development, most of the body organs and systems of the baby-to-be are formed within the first ten weeks or so of pregnancy during this stage. After about the tenth week, the fetus should grow rapidly in weight and size. At this stage, certain drugs may damage organs that are still developing, such as the eyes, as well as the nervous system. Continuing drug use also increases the risk of miscarriage and premature delivery. But the greatest danger drugs pose at this stage is their potential to interfere with normal growth “low-birth weight babies require special care and run a much higher risk of severe health problems or even death”. (Murphy, 1998) The cases of women who are charged and convicted of child abuse even before they are born reflect an interesting intersection between the conservative War on...

Words: 890 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Summary: Pregnant Women Should Be Prosecuted

...Pregnant Women Should Be Prosecuted For Doing Drugs Birth Defects that occur because of street drugs being used during pregnancy is increasing every year. The most common drugs used by pregnant women are cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, which are easy bought and sold around the world. Some cases infants have even passed away or had birth defects such as growth defects, bad lungs, feeding problems, and may have an addiction problem. Tennessee is the only state to have a law prosecuting women who do drugs while pregnant, but noone has really tried to resolve this problem or for the numbers to decrease. Women are abusing infants before they are even born, abuse is a crime , and women should be charged ( Drug use and Pregnancy). During pregnancy at least 1 in every 20 pregnant women does street drugs during their pregnancy. Cocaine can increase the risk of miscarriage or cause placental abruptions, preterm birth and fetal death can occur , or the baby could be born with a smaller head and have growth restrictions. Injecting heroin can cause the baby to have an addiction to heroin, low blood sugar, internal bleeding, and death. Smoking marijuana could make the levels of carbon monoxide ride and increase the chance of low birth weight ( American...

Words: 893 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Opiates Research Paper

...What are opiates, also known as narcotics? They’re derived from opium, which comes from the poppy plant. Common names of illicit and licit drugs that millions of people use every day are heroin, morphine, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), fentanyl (Duragesic), codeine, oxycodone (Oxycontin and Percocet), and hydrocodone (Vicodin and Hycodan). These drugs are known to have serious side effects and withdrawal symptoms on the human body and brain. “More than half a million people in the United States are addicted to heroin, with an estimated 156,000 new users in 2012” (Davison & Neale, 297). Opiates can be smoked, taken orally, and by injection. There used to be speculations that only men where using opiates, but now are women too. Opiates, “Relieve...

Words: 1150 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Born Addicted to Drugs

...Born Addicted to Drugs Born Addicted to Drugs As prescription drug abuse increases, doctors face many challenges dealing with pregnant women giving birth to newborns addicted to opiates . While many people start out with narcotic pain killers prescribed by a doctor, they become habit-forming and can lead to a road of addiction and destruction in one’s lives. “These infants experience what's called neonatal abstinence syndrome as they undergo withdrawal from the addictive drugs their mothers took during pregnancy. Most often these are narcotic painkillers, such as oxycodone, morphine or hydrocodone, according to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” (Reinberg, 2015, p.1) Doctors could be somewhat unsure on exactly what to do, from sedating the newly born babies with withdrawal medications to any type of prescription medications, it brings a high risk to the life of the new born. Diagnosing the mother and infant with treatments provided by doctors will insure their survival and help them to live a healthy life. The problems that occur in a newborn who was exposed to addictive illegal or prescription drugs while in the mother’s womb, known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) include two major types of NAS: NAS due to prenatal or maternal use of substances that result in withdrawal symptoms in the newborn and postnatal NAS secondary to discontinuation of medications such as fentanyl or morphine used for pain therapy in the newborn. (Hamdan...

Words: 867 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Teretagon Use

...treatment vs. punishment. Should the pregnant mother who engages in substance abuse be viewed as a criminal or as someone suffering from an illness requiring appropriate treatment? This diversity of dramatically different responses illustrates the failure to establish a uniform policy for the management of this problem. The issue of substance abuse is one that has negatively plagued society. The complexities surrounding addiction are not easily overcome. These complexities are even more defined in cases of substance abuse by pregnant women, including legal addictive substances such as nicotine and alcohol. This issue has been pushed to the forefront of the public consciousness over the course of the past 30 years. Murphy and Rosenbaum 1999, describe maternal prenatal substance abuse as “chronic use of alcohol and/or other drugs by pregnant women”. It is my belief that the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs during pregnancy is still child endangerment .All these tetatogen’s can kill your baby or cause serious problems for them with the development of cognitive, physical, social, and emotional abilities. It is unfair to the child to have no control over what has caused them problems with development as a result of their mother’s teratogen use; therefore there should be consequences as a result of their harmful decisions. It is understood that a women has the right to do with her body what she wants and that some that are pregnant: drink, smoke, or use illegal...

Words: 2198 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Research

...research article is to discuss lower risk drugs such as Methadone and Buprenorphine given to Heroin addicted pregnant patients to create better neonatal and maternal outcomes. This research articles discusses the gold standard of treatment for better neonatal and maternal outcomes. Keywords: heroin, neonatal, maternal, outcomes, methadone, buprenorphine, gold standard treatment A Critique of the Research Article: Methadone/Buprenorphine and Better Maternal/ Perinatal Outcomes: A Meta-analysis Methadone is a synthetic opioid. It is used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive and reductive preparation for use by patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937. Methadone was introduced into the United States in 1947 by Eli Lilly and Company. The principal effects of methadone maintenance are to relieve narcotic craving, suppress the abstinence syndrome, and block the euphoric effects associated with opiates. When used correctly, Methadone maintenance has been found to be medically safe and non-sedating. It is also indicated for pregnant women addicted to opiates. (doi:http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/methadone) The theoretical study was not discussed in the articles but Roy’s Model identifies the elements considered essential to adaptation and describes how the elements interact to produce adaptation and thus health. Methadone helps the pregnant opioid dependent individual adapt to a lower risk drug and produces an overall healthier maternal...

Words: 1507 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Research Paper

...Some of the protocols must be done as an inpatient in a hospital. One inpatient protocol is giving the infant medication that is similar to the type of drug they are addicted to. This allows the infant to slowly ween off the drug rather than stopping it suddenly. Another inpatient protocol is giving the infant intravenous therapy (IV). If the infant is experiencing symptoms such as excessive vomiting and diarrhea he or she may need IV therapy to prevent dehydration. The last inpatient protocol is giving the infant special baby formula that contains an excessive amount of calories. This ensures that the baby is getting enough calories needed to grow properly. Just as there are inpatient protocols there are also protocols that can be done at home. One common protocol that can be used at home is swaddling the infant in a blanket to sooth and provide comfort. Another at home protocol is giving the baby skin-to-skin...

Words: 2038 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Pregnancy and Substance Abuse

...PERSPECTIVE 8 MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT 10 SOLUTION TO PROBLEM 11 EXPECTED RESULTS/TIMEFRAME 12 CONCLUSION 13 REFERENCES 14 PICTURES ILLUSTRATING PREGNANT SUBSTANCE ABUSE WOMEN AND FETUS 15 INTRODUCTION Social problems exist at the door step of every community it has been in existence decades ago and still lives on today. Social problems can be defined as an issue that relates to society’s perception of an individual’s personal life and their behaviour is considered to be out of the norm. Substance abuse has vast becoming an epidemic in today’s society and it is considered as a social problem. Substance abuse is one thing but to see pregnant women abusing these endangering substances is another issue. People use drugs for many different reasons but for a pregnant woman to use drugs she may be mentally ill or depressed. Substance abuse may not have a serious or long-lasting effect on you but the same is not always true for a foetus. Mothers that abuse substances give birth to "drug babies." These children have serious developmental problems. Researches show that using substances legal or illegal during pregnancy has a direct impact on the foetus, whether smoking, consumption of alcohol, or ingesting caffeine. If you use marijuana or cocaine, your foetus also feels the impact of these dangerous drugs. If you are addicted to heroin, you are risking the health of your unborn baby. The use of drugs during pregnancy also increases the chance of birth defects, premature babies...

Words: 2375 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Descriptive

...stem from substance abuse than from any other preventable health condition. Today, one in four deaths is attributable to illicit drug use. Drugs hijack the “reward” system of the brain. This can cause unusually large amounts of dopamine to flood the system. This flood of dopamine is what causes the “high” associated with drug abuse. The problem with this however, is that when one is sober their emotions and brain interactions do not function normally. This can cause them to have extreme mood swings, and often time’s very angry outbursts or paranoia. Not only does drug abuse affect the brain, it can also cause serious health issues down the line. Drugs weaken the immune system increasing susceptibility to infections. Nearly 4 percent of pregnant women in the United...

Words: 896 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Djksao

...Jessica Hogan We will explore the following: 1. Source and history of cocaine: Cocaine was first introduced in the early ninth century. It comes from the coca plant. Cocaine is both a stimulant and a suppressant, this means that you have a lot of happiness and a feeling of energy when you take the drug. It is said to be like a “stronger version of coffee.” It was found in the Andes Mountains of South America. At first cocaine was thought to have a lot of medical advantages, and treat certain diseases. (http://casapalmera.com/the-history-of-cocaine/) 2. Effects and chemical characteristics of the substance: Cocaine causes a euphoric feeling. It provides the user with lots of energy and awakens the brain making the user feel very alert. It brings up your mood and makes you feel like you are on the top of the world. Its molecular formula is C17H21NO4. (http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.10194104.html) (http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/cocaine-use-and-its-effects) 3. Routes of administration Cocaine is typical administrated in three way. According to the statistics of the article “Cocaine: patterns of use, route of administration, and severity of dependence,” the results were that 40% of people prefer smoking the drug, 32% prefer intranasal, and 24% prefer injecting after a seven of 150 users was taken. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7921717) 4. Introduction of "Crack" and its relationship with race ...

Words: 534 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Side Effects Of Xanax Research Paper

...Some side effects of Xanax are drowsiness, dizziness, and increased saliva production. The more serious side effects of Xanax is mental changes, slurred speech, hallucinations, memory problems, and loss of coordination. “Alprazolam is used by drug addicts and has become a popular party drug during the last decade.” (Vester) Signs and symptoms of Xanax abuse are more likely noticed when a person has reached high levels of consumption. A person who has become dependent on this drug- which means they have come to rely on this drug psychologically as well being physically addicted-will probably need rehabilitation before they are able to embark on a new, sober life. When a person is addicted, they have found an escape from certain life problems...

Words: 1376 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Addictionr Recovery

...Research Project The number of women who are suffering from alcohol or drug addiction while they are pregnant or once they have given birth, is growing more and more every day. Addiction during pregnancy can have a negative impact on the health of the mother and her unborn child. The baby could suffer from different types of abnormalities and defects. The mother, on the other hand, may suffer from high blood pressure, sexually transmitted diseases, premature labor, and skin infection along with many other problems. Addiction during pregnancy is a serious problem, and these women who are suffering from drug or alcohol addiction should seek help immediately. According to Social Work Today, an individualized program and flexibility are among the top recommendations for treating pregnant or postpartum women addicted to alcohol or other drugs. Different facilities offer different programs and a different length of treatment depending on the woman’s needs. Education and life skills are taught in all of the programs for pregnant or postpartum women with addictions. For example, they learn to cook, clean, and how to manage their household. At Gratitude House facility, they teach parenting classes and instruct patients on how to care for their baby. Individual therapy is required once a week as well as group therapy sessions and other group activities. Peer support is essential to women with addictions while pregnant or after giving birth. Some women may experience guilt, remorse, shame...

Words: 976 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

The Effects of Substance Abuse on Unborn Babies

...Abstract Substance abuse during pregnancy can cause many medical problems for the baby after birth. Tobacco, alcohol, and many other forms of illegal substances can cause medical concerns both during pregnancy and after birth to a baby exposed during pregnancy. Low birth weight, heart defects and premature birth are some of the common effects of substance abuse during pregnancy. The Effects of Substance Abuse on Unborn Babies In today's society, people are talking about babies being born addicted to drugs, and how a mother could harm her unborn child. Substance abuse during pregnancy can have devastating and lasting effects on unborn babies. Drug addiction is a very serious condition that requires more research. We are still learning the effects of substance abuse. Doctors and nurses should not judge these women, but should instead give them the best prenatal care that can be provided. We need to see what harm and side effects substance abuse has on the mother and baby so that we can be able to better understand how to treat the both of them during pregnancy and after birth. Tobacco is sometimes called the lessor of all evils, but “there are over four thousand chemicals” (Johnson, 2012), including nicotine and carbon monoxide. These are the two most dangerous chemicals. Smoking during pregnancy affects the mother and baby’s health before, during, and after the baby is born. The nicotine (the addictive substance in tobacco), carbon monoxide, and numerous other poisons...

Words: 1113 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Should Smoking Cigarette Be Illegal?

...is a small cylinder like filled with cut tobacco leaves and rolled in a paper and ignited for smoking. In most countries, tobacco smoking is legal due to the businesses motives and also the people who are addicted. They cannot do without it. It has immense consequences, and it should, therefore, be illegal from the effects to the smokers, passive smokers and all the human beings due to the pollution of the environment. The following are some of the consequences from smoking tobacco: Smoking tobacco has no healthy benefit due to the diseases it brings to the smoker. The continued smoking leads to high risk of lung cancer, heart attacks, blood clots, browning of teeth and makes the breath and clothes to stink. These diseases especially the lung cancer has led to so many deaths of the cigarettes smokers and hence the making of the smoking illegal should greatly help in the decrease of these deaths. The smokers also cause these effects to the non-smokers (passive smokers) and they become victims of the same diseases especially to close members of the family and the pregnant women to the unborn where they are born unhealthy hence the cigarette smoking should be made illegal (Nelson,2012). Tobacco smoking leads to heavy tolerance and dependence to it and hence becomes addicted due to the nicotine in it. This makes the users have craved for it and difficult to stop using it. People who have psychological dependent on it find an urge to smoke when they smell it even if it’s from far...

Words: 685 - Pages: 3