PRENATAL MATTER EXPOSURE AND THE ROLE OF CHILD

Prenatal Matter Exposure and the Role of Child

Prenatal Matter Exposure and the Role of Child

Abstract

Matter use throughout pregnancy is a public welfare anxiety that has promise short- and long-run consequences for infants and juvenile children. Ongoing parental matter abuse and the dwelling natural environment have important penalties for infant and children development. Pregnancy may be an perfect time to address maternal matter abuse; although, early detection of prenatal matter use is confusing by a number of political/legal, financial, and social/attitudinal barriers. Addressing the desires of substance-exposed infants needs coordination of avoidance (education and screening) and early intervention by multiple bureaus, encompassing progeny welfare. This item focuses on early detection of prenatal matter misuse, with care to the function of the progeny welfare field. The item reconsiders the principle context for early detection and presents the outcomes from a reconsider of screening devices for noticing matter use in with child women. The item concludes with a consideration of the significances of the outcome for collaboration between programs and progeny welfare practice.

1. Introduction

The presence of parental substance abuse in many child welfare cases is well-documented ([Child Welfare League of America, 2001] and [United States Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau, 1999]). Between 50 and 80% of child welfare cases are estimated to involve parental abuse of alcohol or other drugs (Osterling & Austin, 2008). Substance abuse and child maltreatment are highly correlated in research studies to the extent that initial screening and ongoing assessment for substance use disorders for child welfare involved families is indicated (Young, Nakashian, Yeh, & Amatetti, 2007).

While all parental substance abuse is a concern in promoting children's safety, permanency, and well-being, prenatal substance exposure is particularly concerning given the risk to the infant and negative outcomes potentially associated with maternal substance use. In addition to problems during pregnancy and shortly after birth (e.g., low birth weight and increased risk of infant mortality), maternal substance abuse is associated with future developmental problems for the child (Behnke & Eyler, 1993). Additional issues of concern stem from numerous social, financial, and psychological problems faced by women who abuse drugs during pregnancy, only one of which is inadequate prenatal health care (United States Governmental Accountability Office [GAO], 1990).

Young (2006) reports that most (75-90%) prenatally exposed infants return home undetected. Given a growing concern about the health, safety, and well-being of substance-exposed infants, early detection of drug and alcohol abuse in pregnant mothers is critical. However, disagreement about what should be done if drug or alcohol abuse is detected can lead to inconsistent responses to screening and assessment of pregnant women. Some research suggests that certain women, typically poor women from minority backgrounds, are targeted for screening or disproportionately reported and others argue that screening is ineffective if the response is punitive (criminal conviction) rather than rehabilitative (drug treatment) ([Chasnoff et al., 1990], [Drescher-Burke and Price, 2005] and [Hans, 1999]).

In an effort to intervene early with substance-exposed infants, the 2003 amendments of the Child ...