The Effects On Substance Abuse On Unborn Children
The Effects of Substance Abuse on Unborn Children
Substance abuse is a problem that many pregnant women in the United States struggle with. Substance abuse is defined as the overindulgence in and the dependence on an addictive substance, especially alcohol or a narcotic drug. Generally, pregnant addicts abuse multiple substances, using a combination of drugs to self medicate themselves. In addition, women are usually addicted to drugs or have issues with alcoholism before they become pregnant.
Substance abusing women have also been shown to have histories of physical and sexual abuse dating back to childhood (Gale, 2003). Many of these women are in abusive relationships in which they tend to stay in throughout their addiction. In this case, the use of drugs helps to numb the addict’s pain of such abuse. Most of these women feel distrustful of people in general and therefore, have very little support from their peers. Drug dependence is a disease. Drug dependence is the habituation or addiction to the use of a drug or chemical substance, with or without physical dependence. It is extremely difficult for a woman to abstain, even if she does become pregnant. In addition, if a woman decides to seek treatment she may face many barriers. This paper will address the prenatal effects of drug dependence, barriers to treatment, social policy, and what a comprehensive treatment program provides to women who are addicted to drugs and who are also pregnant.
Prenatal substance abuse is wrong because there is no question that it poses serious health risks to the fetus, but also poses problems for mother. The prenatal effects of drug addiction vary among the type of drugs that are used by the mother. These drugs include the licit drugs of alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol may produce Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS); a condition characterized by abnormal facial features, intrauterine growth retardation, and central nervous system problems (CDC, 2003)....
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