Kaisha Killion
Professor Salmond
Developmental Psychology
27 Sept. 2013

Substance Abuse and Pregnancy

Women are incredible creatures. Women have the incredible ability to aid in the development of a new life within a matter of months. Whether a pregnancy is wanted or unplanned the process of development for the young zygote nestled within the mother’s womb is still phenomenal. The developing bundles of cells are very vulnerable from the very start to the end of a pregnancy. The progress of development for the zygote is a delicate one than can be interrupted or slowed down by many internal and external forces. The forces that can interrupt development can range from biological to environmental. The woman carrying the child is responsible for not only her life but the life of her unborn child. Many activities a mother engages in, the unborn child engages in as well. Activities that the mother participates in can be harmless such as listening to music or enjoying a healthy snack. Unfortunately, some activities are not beneficial for the new life. A mother who participates in substance abuse is putting herself and her child at risk. Substance abuse during pregnancy can have adverse effects on the mother, the unborn child, and raises an ethical dilemma. The online Merriam Webster dictionary states that “Autonomy is self-directing freedom and especially moral independence” (Merriam-Webster). Autonomy is a freedom that many individuals can exercise but it takes a rational individual to do so responsibly. The use of substances is an act that can be done in one’s personal time. The effects of these substances on an individual’s physical and emotional health are well known due to the effects being commonly broadcasted in media and by health providers, although there are women who are ignorant of the consequences of substance abuse. Despite the exposed risks, some individuals still continue to use harmful substances.
Our expecting mother may begin to abuse a substance due to the substance’s ability to enable the reward center of the brain. This enabling causes a constant craving for the drug that can lead to further abuse. Drugs commonly take over the limbic system of an individual and create mass amounts of dopamine that can cause intense feelings of euphoria (“Gateway Foundation”). While the mother is enjoying the high of whatever substance she has chosen, the substance is causing other physical changes in her body. The physical effects of substance abuse are extensive. Depending on the substance, a person can experience a multitude of symptoms alongside the high that the abuser strives for. The Gateway Foundation points out that the means of which the substance enters the body determines how the drug affects the individual (“Gateway Foundation”). Substance abuse can have immediate effects on the function of an individual’s brain and can cause adverse reactions such as nausea, seizures and possibly death (“Gateway Foundation”). Long term use of substances can affect the cardiovascular system, liver function and other organ functions (Gateway Foundation). Everything the expectant mother takes into her body is directly transmitted to the organism living in her uterus. Substances can cross through the placenta and harm the developing organism. Alcohol, even in small amounts, can harm a developing fetus. In the text, Experience Human Development, it states, “Moderate or heavy drinking during pregnancy seems to disturb an infant’s neurological and behavioral functioning, and this may affect early social interaction with the mother, which is vital to emotional development” (Papalia 83). With alcohol abuse there is also the risk of the unborn child developing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome which is a result of retarded growth (Papalia 83). Nicotine is the single most important factor in low birth weights (Papalia 84). Nicotine also increases the risk of miscarriage, retardation and stillbirth (Papalia 84). Drugs such as Marijuana, Cocaine, and Methamphetamine also can also lead to birth defects. One of the most common side effects of drug use is withdrawal. An individual experiences withdrawal when the individual chooses to stop an addictive substance that the body has chosen to rely on. (“Neonatal Abstinence…”). The unborn child can become addicted to the substances the mother had taken into her body just as she had. When the child is born he or she is no longer receiving the addictive substance from the mother and begins to show withdrawal symptoms such as crying, tremors, and in extreme cases death (“Neonatal Abstinence…”). An ethical dilemma presents itself when the correlation between an expectant mother’s drug use and the newborn’s health is drawn. The dilemma is as follows: Should pregnant women who have used harmful substances be held responsible for the health of the newborn child? The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, developed in 2003, require states to notify child protective services of newborns prenatally exposed to illegal substances (Little, Christina). The act encourages states to develop procedures to identify infants suffering from substance abuse and assist families in making the transition (Little). The Child Protective Service strives to protect children from further abuse and neglect, as well as attempt to assist families experiencing problems (“Indiana Department of Child Services”). The goal of similar programs is to assist the child outside the womb and ensure that the child receives the care needed. Programs, such as the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 2003, fail to address the justice aspect of the issue. Many argue that justice should be sought for infants who have exited the womb with devastating effects. From the viewpoint of the child, the use of substances is not done willfully. The child relies on the mother for safety; a concept that applies to children of any age. Abuse is described as any “physical maltreatment” (Merriam-Webster). The mother of the infant chose to use harmful substances and as a result the unborn child was directly affected. Outside the womb, sentencing for child abuse ranges depending on the circumstance; from a few months to years. From the side of justice, the women should face consequences for the way the unborn child was affected by the woman’s behavior, similar to as if the woman had physically abused the child outside the womb. The second viewpoint to the issue closely follows the fight women are engaging in for the right to their own bodies. Commonly, this fight is seen in the argument of legal abortion. Women feel that whatever a woman has chosen to do or put into her body is her own right. In the argument for abortion, the rights of the fetus are dismissed (Valenti, Jessica). Women declare the right to autonomy. The argument also raises a few hairs when the subject of life emerges. Women dismiss the rights of the child because the definition of life for fetuses is so widely debated (Valenti). Because of this, the argument declares that a life was not harmed or taken by the woman’s actions, therefore no legal action or consequences can be established (Valenti). Another argument against charging women who abuse substances during pregnancy is the well-being of the child after birth. Women argue that the child will be better off with the biological mother due to bonding dilemmas.
Child Protective Services will intervene when a report is made of suspected abuse Child Protective Services may take the child away from the neglectful or abusive environment if needed. The goal of Child Protection Services is not to remove child from the homes but to create a better environment for the child. First on the list of goals for the agent on the case is to reunite the family if possible. The Department of Child Services states “DCS also seeks to return children who have been removed from their own homes to their families through the provision of services to the child and family” (“Indiana Department of Child Services”). Therefore, some argue that removing the newborn from family or tossing the mother in jail may not benefit the child but may cause more emotional harm later down the road. In conclusion, the effects of substance abuse can be devastating for a woman and her unborn child. The woman can choose to use these harmful substances while pregnant and show a total disregard to the growing bundle of cells in her uterus. The effects substance abuse has on any human being can be life threatening. The effect substance abuse has on a developing human can be even more detrimental. Substance abuse during pregnancy is a topic that is greatly debated. The rights of the newborn and the mother oppose each other. The debate will continue as long as the issues of women’s rights, the right of the unborn and the welfare of the new child are presented.

Works Cited
Christina Little, et al. "Implementing Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
Requirements to Serve Substance-Exposed Newborns: Lessons from a Collective Case
Study of Four Program Models." Journal of Public Child Welfare 6.2 (2012): 149-171.
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"Effects of Drug Abuse and Addiction." Drug Rehab & Alcohol Treatment Centers in Illinois.
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"Indiana Department of Child Services." DCS: Child Protective Services. In.gov, n.d. Web. 26
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Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2013.
"Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of
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Papalia, Diane E., Sally Wendkos. Olds, Ruth Duskin. Feldman, Gabriela Martorell, and Diane
E. Papalia. "Chapter 3." Experience Human Development. New York: McGraw-Hill,
2012. 83-85. Print.
Valenti, Jessica. "Abortion and Magical Thinking." Nation 296.26/27 (2013): 10. Academic
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