NCJ Number
124858
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Social and medical institutions have not responded effectively to the needs of pregnant alcoholic and other drug-dependent women.
Abstract
Although different drugs have different prenatal effects, most have some similar effects when they are used during pregnancy, including low birth weight, mental retardation, and physical deformities. Only a few prevention and treatment efforts have focused specifically on pregnant alcoholic and other drug-dependent women due to tremendous fears among service providers about liability problems associated with treating pregnant, addicted women. There is also a great need for additional training of treatment providers about how to proceed with safe detoxification and treatment. To date, much of the reaction to treating pregnant alcoholic and other drug-dependent women has been guided by fear, lack of knowledge, and lack of experience. The sad irony is that pregnancy offers an opportunity to intervene and provide treatment; yet it is at this very time that the least amount of treatment is available. Policy recommendations addressing the needs of women of child-bearing age and their children include appropriation of funds to support the Model Projects for Pregnant and Post-partum Women and their Infants, coordination of available health and social service resources, and provision of an adequate number of residential and outpatient treatment programs with comprehensive childcare components.