Drug Abuse by Pregnant Women Term Paper

Total Length: 1103 words ( 4 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 0

Page 1 of 4

Drug Abuse and Pregnant Women

Proposed Title for the paper: Using for Two: Pregnancy and Drug Abuse

The broad paper topic is drug abuse by pregnant women. However, a narrower focus for this paper will deal with the physical and psychological effects on the fetus (and the child) that are associated with drug abuse during pregnancy. The paper will also address the efficacy of various proposed solutions, including treatment methods, sociological and philosophical implications, and criminal justice approaches as well.

Because drug abuse by pregnant women can lead to the infant developing severe medical problems, learning and emotional disabilities later in life, and can be potentially fatal, the Federal Government and Child Protection Services should acknowledge that drug abuse by pregnant women is a form of child abuse.

The Federal Government and Child Protection Services should acknowledge that drug abuse by pregnant women is akin to child abuse because an innocent victim's life is at stake: the infant may develop severe medical problems, learning and emotional disabilities, and possible death.

4. The problem that will be discussed in this paper is the lack of clear public policy regarding drug use by pregnant women. The medical and psychiatric effects of drug abuse on the infant have been clearly established, and will be discussed at length in the paper. An examination of past and current approaches to pregnant drug abusers will also be provided.
These will include philosophical issues like feminist approaches as well as more hard-lined criminal justice approaches to drug abuse by pregnant women. However, because drug abuse has such severe and long-term effects on the infant, I assert that pregnant mothers should be considered to be child abusers, just as beating children or neglecting them is considered child abuse in the eyes of the law.

5. Statement of limitations: Most of the available literature deals with either the medical and psychiatric effects of drug abuse on the infant or with addiction treatment; there aren't many sources that address drug abuse by pregnant women as being a source of child abuse. Therefore, finding adequate source material could pose a significant problem for this research.

6. Definition of terms: Child Abuse: any physical or emotional mistreatment of a child. Addiction: A compulsive psychological and physiological drive to overuse a substance to a point where it interferes with daily life, rationality, and normal functioning. Drug: For the purposes of this paper, drugs will not include medically assigned pharmaceuticals given to the mother but rather will include the use of illicit substances like crack and cocaine as well as legal but harmful substances like alcohol and tobacco.

7. Time Plan: Work will be completed on December 11. Included will be the cover sheet, abstract, table of contents, figures, tables, and a Works.....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Drug Abuse By Pregnant Women" (2003, November 11) Retrieved May 20, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/drug-abuse-pregnant-women-157351

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Drug Abuse By Pregnant Women" 11 November 2003. Web.20 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/drug-abuse-pregnant-women-157351>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Drug Abuse By Pregnant Women", 11 November 2003, Accessed.20 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/drug-abuse-pregnant-women-157351