NCJ Number
128559
Date Published
1990
Length
327 pages
Annotation
This hearing before the U.S. House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families presents testimony from medical, legal, social-services, law-enforcement, and governmental representatives regarding Federal and State policies to address substance abuse by pregnant women and its impact on their children before and after birth.
Abstract
Previous hearings before the select committee on this subject documented the widespread problem of drug addiction among women of all socioeconomic groups and featured a model program for substance abusing women and their children in Detroit, the Eleonore Hutzel Recovery Center. The third hearing, reported in this document, discusses what policies and laws should be in place to ensure that those who need help receive it. Some witnesses argue that substance abuse during pregnancy amounts to child abuse and should be handled under child abuse reporting laws. Others recommend that substance-abusing pregnant women be identified and required to undergo drug treatment. Federal funding for preventive outreach and treatment early in a women's pregnancy is favored by many witnesses. Training of health care professionals to identify and treat substance-abusing, pregnant women is recommended as well. Prepared statements, letters, and supplemental materials