Lawmakers Aim To Punish Addicted Moms-To-Be

 

For the record, we completely understand what a difficult topic “pregnancy and addiction” can be. On the one hand, it seems unfathomable that an expectant mother would put her unborn baby at risk by using. But it is also important to comprehend just how powerful some of these dependencies can be (particularly when you consider America’s opioid crisis) and the sincere struggles these moms are facing. Whatever side you’re on, it is worth noting that a new law may be put it in place to punish women in these types of situations.

 

Tennessee Representatives Lynn Weaver and Janice Bowling recently introduced House Bill 1168, which tacks on an assault charge to any woman who uses an illegal narcotic while pregnant. Particularly harsh sentences could be incurred if the child is born harmed or drug dependent. In fact, the term “addicted babies” appears frequently throughout the bill.

 

Not surprisingly, the opioid epidemic was brought up frequently by Weaver and Bowling. Both women point to the fact that drug dependent infants are on the rise. The hope would be that this law could work as a deterrent, encouraging these women to get into treatment before any type of pregnancy occurs. To its credit, the law also states that if an addicted expectant mother enters and completes a treatment program, her charges may be lessened.

 

“This bill’s intent is to protect babies, period,”Rep. Weaver said in a statement. “The number of babies born addicted to drugs, it has not decreased. It has exponentially increased.”

 

On the other side of the argument, there are people who have spoken out against the law. Erika Lathon, who works as a public relations rep at a high profile recovery firm, believes it could actually do more harm than good. For one, she claims the bill’s funding would be better spent on public treatment programs. She also emphasized that jailed moms could lead to additional problems for the newborns, such as foster care. The fear factor among this group was also brought up.

 

“A pregnant woman who is battling an addiction is already facing a tremendous amount of stigma and has a number of problems to deal with,” Lathon told the press. “Then you add on top of that the possibility of her being prosecuted and thrown into jail, we believe that is going to push them further away, make the woman less likely to say, ‘Yes I have a problem, yes I’m addicted, yes I need help.’”

 

Obviously, we are talking about a tremendously difficult topic. But the truth of the matter is, pregnant addicted mothers is not as uncommon as people might think. If you or someone you are close to is caught up in this type of situation, please reach out for help immediately.

 

More Pregnant Women Are Smoking Marijuana

As marijuana continues to gain widespread acceptance, it is not unusual to see usage rates among Americans go up. But sadly, that stat is increasing for a particularly vulnerable population segment: pregnant women. While marijuana obviously has its champions (defending its habitual use for medicinal purposes), it is a proven fact that it can be harmful to an unborn child.

Clearly this new research is alarming, particularly when you realize that the number of pregnant women smoking has nearly doubled over the past 10 years (from 3 percent to 5 percent). And while those figures do seem somewhat small, know that every person in that 5 percent ratio is putting their pregnancy at serious risk.

Research from The National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) has shown that using marijuana while pregnant (particularly in the early stages) can seriously harm fetal development and neurological functions of unborn babies. For women who smoke, the dangers intensify as issues can now impact the lungs and airways.

As mentioned in a report on TheFix.com, this risky smoking component should not be ignored by any marijuana users.

“Marijuana smoking is associated with large airway inflammation, increased airway resistance, and lung hyperinflation,” the site explained, referencing data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. “And those who smoke marijuana regularly report more symptoms of chronic bronchitis than those who do not smoke.”

Not surprisingly, the pregnancy  issues were most prominent in U.S. regions where marijuana use is deregulated. That includes our home state of California, as well as Colorado and Washington D.C., among others.

The stats also leaned towards younger, minority women when it came to the largest sect of pregnant smokers. It particularly singled out women who did not finish high school.

If there was any silver lining in this latest data, it was that other addictive substance were on the decline among pregnant women. Alcohol abuse among women who were expecting, for example, fell from 10 percent to 8 percent. Cigarette smoking saw a sharp decrease as well, falling from 18 percent to 10 percent among the same group.

Regardless, it is our opinion that pregnant women should steer clear of all harmful substances during those precious nine months. And let it be known; if you are already fighting an addiction and happen to be pregnant, there are plenty of healthy detox options that can ensure you have a healthy baby. Our team is more than willing to help if this is a scenario you are encountering. Just please, seek it out quickly to avoid any and all delivery risks.

A Warning For Addicted New Moms

We know how it easy it is to fall prey to an addiction. And how that addiction can overpower you, even interfering with parenting and raising a family. New moms who may have put their cravings on hold during a pregnancy can quickly fall back into the trappings after a healthy baby is born. This, however, can be an extremely dangerous time to re-ignite a habit, particularly when issues like postpartum depression creep in.

New data from The Sarasota Herald Tribune is showing that women who use opioids are at much greater risk of an overdose during the first year of their baby’s life. This could relate to moms who restart their dependencies after nine months of pregnancy or those who become first time users after childbirth.

As study rep Davida Schiff told The Herald Tribune, pregnancy can be a time when women feel empowered to kick their addiction. But old habits can easily return, especially during the emotional ups-and-downs that accompany caring for a newborn.

“Pregnancy seems to be a time for change. Women tend to make healthier decisions during pregnancy. So, for women with an opioid addiction, it can be a motivating moment,” Schiff explained. “Where things fall apart is postpartum.”

The study itself monitored 4,000 Massachusetts women who had battled an opioid addiction before pregnancy (and some during). When it came to overdoses, the highest percentage occurred seven to twelve months after their baby was born. Issues listed that caused this group to use again included sleep deprivation, stress and depression.

And for the record, there is a definite increase in pregnant women who abuse opioids. The article goes on to say that the amount of moms-to-be who use has quadrupled in the past 15 years (killing nearly three million).

As far as postpartum is concerned, that stat accounts for nearly 15 percent of all women who give birth. And when it comes to minority moms or those living in poverty, that stat can be as high as 40 percent.

Schiff added that more welfare checks and continued health visits could be a key to overcoming this problem. Coming home from the hospital and feeling a loss of control or safety could easily trigger women who have used in the past.

“We should capitalize on the positive emotions women feel during pregnancy,” Schiff concluded. “I believe it is important to sustain their care or enhance it during the postpartum period, which is arguably the most challenging.”

We at inneractions know how very real postpartum depression and addiction can be for women in America. If either of these issues are plaguing you or someone you care about, know that we are always available to help.