When does locking up one victim, help another victim, a newborn? Opiod Disorder!

Pregnant drug users are addicted and have an addition disorder and should be treated as such. This addiction affects the mother and the newborn adverbially with NAS. Addition to any drug, prescribed or otherwise is an illness and needs to be treated as such and punitive policies is definitely not the answer. I agree with Dr. Cohen,Dfrexel University Law Professor, who states, , “Nothing has found that a child’s or a mother’s health is improved by punitive policies….It drives people from treatment.” Amen, amen!!

We should not treat pregnant drug users like criminals because they are a victim of their own doings or someone else’s undoing. Once someone is addicted their life becomes the life of the drug of choice, prescription or not.

Supposedly, the laws that punish women who abuse drugs during pregnancy are used to protect an unborn baby from addiction. Punishment with incarceration is not the answer. The addicted mother needs hope along with the baby and not punishment. Screening and Preventive Programs needs to be strictly enforced especially during the time of a pregnancy to counteract the effects of drug…