A developed health program directed to pregnant women addicted to drugs.

1. An anonymous support group for
pregnant women with addictions
Developed by Jennifer Peterson

2. “Without addressing the stigma of
addiction, biases against poor and minority
women, unequal access to services and
relative unavailability of services, we will
make little progress toward reducing the
occurrence of substance use by pregnant
women”
-L.W. Roberts and L.B. Dunn, 2003

3. Addiction of any substance can afflict any
person including a pregnant woman
This can range from anywhere between
tobacco use, alcohol abuse, marijuana and
other illicit drugs such as
cocaine, methamphetine, crack, heroin and
hallucinogenics
Just as other addicts need help and
support, the pregnant woman could need
more

4. “Nearly 4% of pregnant women in the United
States use illicit drugs…” (March of
Dimes), “18% report smoking tobacco, 9.8%
report drinking alcohol” (Jones)
Hormonal changes and environmental factors
can increase the need to “feel good”
Mother is the support system for the unborn
baby
She is responsible for not only her life, but the
baby’s as well

5. The pregnant woman my just need someone to
talk to or more importantly relate to.
She may feel lonely or isolated from support.
She may be afraid to seek treatment.
Common situations lead to opening
communication barriers. “Treatment of
pregnant drug-addicted women is best
provided in a single-gender, comprehensive
approach.” (Jones)

6. “Staff can build relationships with the mother
while treating their drug problems and
providing them with vital health
information” (National Crime Prevention
Council)
Teach the mother of the health risks she is
creating for herself and the baby
Educate on the effects that can be suffered
later in life

7. Begin an open anonymous support group for
the drug addicted pregnant woman
Provide one hour weekly meetings in a small
group for open discussions
Also provide monthly, individual, private
meetings for the woman to discuss goal
setting and personal issues that she may not
want to discuss with others
Can be supported and funded through
government grants, community
fundraisers, private and business donations

8.  The National Center on Addiction and
Substance Abuse at Columbia University.
“Pregnancy and Substance Abuse.” Women
under the Influence. Baltimore: Johns
Hopkins University Press, 2006. 103-130.
 Jones, Hendree E. “Drug Addiction During
Pregnancy: Advances in Maternal Treatment
and Understanding Child Outcomes.”
Current Directions In Psychological Science
15:3 (2006): 126-130.

9.  “Prenatal Exposure to Drugs of Abuse.” Topics in
Brief. May 2011. National Institute on Drug
Abuse. 25 Sept 2012
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/topics-
in-brief/prenatal-exposure-to-drugs-abuse
 “Illicit Drug Use During Pregnancy.” Alcohol and
Drugs. January 2008. March of Dimes. 25 Sept
2012.
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/alco
hol_illicitdrug.html
 “Pregnancy and Drug Use.” Pregnancy Health.
2012. Epigee: Women’s Health. 25 Sept 2012.
http://www.epigee.org/pregnancy/drugs.html

10.  “Using Illegal Street Drugs During
Pregnancy.” Pregnancy Wellness. May 2011.
American Pregnancy Association. 25 Sept
2012.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnan
cyhealth/illegaldrugs.html
 “Strategy: Prenatal Care and Drug Abuse
Treatment for Women.” Strategies. 2012.
National Crime Prevention Council. 25 Sept
2012. http://www.ncpc.org/topics/drug-
abuse/strategies/strategy-prenatal-care-and-
drug-abuse-treatment-for-pregnant-women

11.  Hitchcock Center for Women, Inc. Website.
“FAQs”. 2012. http://hcfw.org/frequently-
asked-questions/
 CreangaAA, Sabel JC, Ko Jy, Shapiro-Mendoza
CK et al. “Maternal drug use and its effect
on neonates: a population-based study in
Washington State”. Obstetrics and
Gynecology. May 2012. 119.5: 924-33.
 Chavkin W. “Drug Addiction and Pregnancy:
Policy Crossroads”. AJPH. April 1990. 80.4:
483-87.