Early Intervention and Resources for Expectant Mothers with Substance Use Problems: Service Shortages in the Present Age

Abstract

Substance use during pregnancy exposes prenatally unborn children to alcohol and other drugs. Such exposure may cause serious damage to the unborn child, including but not limited to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), and is devastating in terms of human suffering, not to mention monumental healthcare costs. Expectant mothers should be shown compassion about their addiction and provided early access to resources to improve these outcomes. Punishing them will most likely push them away from the healthcare system and increases stigma.