Pregnant addicts

The topic discussed in the first week of the workshop was based on pregnant addicts. Personally I feel that it is wrong to carry on taking drugs while pregnant for the simple reason the person who is pregnant is not just harming herself but also is harming the baby which could lead to disability. The images show that affects of what could happen if a pregnant woman was to take drugs while pregnant. I personally think that having drugs while pregnant is a bit selfish. Some may say once you are addicted to drugs it is hard to stop, surely the mother to be has the baby in mind while taking drugs, however, I do understand that temptations do make a person give in and weak, nevertheless culture suggests that humans have self-control therefore what is stopping these women who are addicted not to take drugs and to consider their babies life?. Having looked at Iris Marion Young during the workshop, what Iris suggests is that there are three approaches of punishment which are punishment itself which includes Deference and Retribution, The second being treatment which is based on ethics, Thirdly improvement which includes individualising and developing social solidarity. Majority of cases where women have been punished for using drugs while pregnant involve ethnic women, many health care professionals are obliged to report the use of drugs while pregnant. The link shows a real story about a pregnant lady addicted to drugs http://www.advocatesforpregnantwomen.org/articles/ruddick.htm. Iris Marion young suggests that “the rage direct at pregnant addicts unconsciously recalls the feeling that we all had as children of rage towards our mothers who were not always there for us, did not always respond to our needs and desires, and sometimes their own purpose and desires”. In various situations it is usual to come across pregnant teenage mothers who are addicted to drugs who also find it hard to break away from the habit. The solution to help the pregnant teens to break away from the habit is by using ‘special dolls’ that illustrate what circumstances they will face if they carry on using drugs while pregnant. The main aim of these dolls is to reduce not only the number of pregnant teens but also pregnant ladies addicted to drugs. The link below shows how the doll help addicted mothers to break away from the bad habit. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/4350113.stm

I agree with kartik that guilt is the best treatment and understand his view about drugs is not socially acceptable or available. However I personally feel that a pregnant woman is being selfish by putting something that she gains pleasure out of first rather than considering the dangers she could put the child in by carrying on using drugs.