is re-exposed because the crack remains in amniotic fluid surrounding the baby. When the baby is born it goes through severe withdrawal. These babies are very hard to console and will cry for hours on end. They are crying because they are in a lot of pain and don’t even like to be touched. (Florence 1998) When it comes down to it, these women, addiction or not, are intentionally hurting their child. They are perfectly aware that they are doing drugs and could be doing permanent damage to their child, born or un-born. The CAPTA (Child Abuse Prevention And Treatment Act) and (Public Law 104-235) defines child abuse as “at a minimum, any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emontial harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or act or failure which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.” Clearly, when women abuse drugs while pregnant it is a form of child abuse. Child neglect, which is a form of child abuse, includes allowing the child to participate in drug and alcohol abuse. These so-called mothers are not only allowing their child to participate in drug and alcohol use but are forcing them to. I feel that yes, women who abuse drugs while pregnant, should be able to face prosecution. “National hospital studies estimate that from 10 to 25 percent of all babies born in the United States are exposed to drugs before birth.” (Sagatun, Edwards 1995) This is a very serious problem that can not be ignored anymore. There are so many factors that these mothers are effecting when they decide to get high. The long-term effects of what can happen to the little baby inside of them that can not “just say no” to drugs “also have an impact upon public health, social welfare, education, and the courts. The long-term costs to society of care for substance-exposed infants are staggering and may continue for the rest of their lives. The ed...
