We have been reviewing research on prenatal Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD) because of this legislation proposing a task force on the issue.
The American College of Gynecologists and similar organizations have issued statements opposing mandated reporting of SUD, which they believe deters women from getting prenatal care. This (open access) article on alcohol addiction supports that view.
However the organizations’ statements don’t address some nuances of the issue, and none mention the potential health consequences of SUD for children, particularly from alcohol use. As this article (shared with permission) demonstrates, those include that 61% of newborns who withdraw from alcohol or drugs are screened into child protection within a year, and 30% are placed in foster care.
Strategies to reduce prenatal SUD so children are born healthy and the family doesn’t end up in the system are in everyone’s interest.
Join Rich Gehrman for a deeper discussion and analysis in this week’s podcast, here or wherever you hear your favorite podcast shows. Just search “Safe Passage for Children” to find our show.
Read the transcript here.
Actually, the statements from all of these organizations are intended to benefit the fetus by enabling pregnant persons to receive prenatal care without penalty. Proof Alliance, a locally based group with national influence, has promoted a nuanced program on this issue for the past 30 years. I am surprised not to see them quoted here and recommend consulting them on prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.