Pregnant drug users should be charged with child abuse. When arguing why pregnant drug users should be prosecuted we must recognize and understand child welfare and the laws and or policies associated with child welfare. According to the Child Welfare government website, child welfare “ promotes the safety, permanency, and well-being of children, youth, and families by connecting child welfare, adoption, and related professionals as well as the public to information, resources, and tools covering topics on child welfare, child abuse and neglect, out-of-home care, adoption, and more.” One major Act that needs to be delegated as a crucial factor in prosecuting pregnant drug abusers is the Child Abuse Prevention Act. This Act was developed in
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Out of the 50 United States, 19 have specific procedures when reporting an illegal substance exposed newborn. Out of those 19, 12 states include this situation in their child abuse and neglect child welfare laws. With the growing issue of children being exposed to illegal substance abuse, many states have modified their child abuse and neglect laws to include the following: Manufacturing a controlled substance in the presence of a child or on premises occupied by a child, Exposing a child to, or allowing a child to be present where, chemicals or equipment for the manufacture of controlled substances are used or stored, Selling, distributing, or giving drugs or alcohol to a child, Using a controlled substance that impairs the caregiver’s ability to adequately care for the child, Exposing a child to the criminal sale or distribution of drugs(Child Welfare Information Gateway, …show more content…
South Dakota “‘Abused or neglected child’ includes a child: Who was subject to prenatal exposure to abusive use of alcohol, marijuana, or any controlled drug or substance not lawfully prescribed by a practitioner as authorized by statute” ( Child Welfare Gateway, 2003).
Wisconsin “‘Abuse,’ other than when used in referring to abuse of alcohol beverages or other drugs, means any of the following: When used in referring to an unborn child, serious physical harm inflicted on the unborn child, and the risk of serious physical harm to the child when born, caused by the habitual lack of self-control of the expectant mother of the unborn child in the use of alcoholic beverages, controlled substances, or controlled substance analogs, exhibited to a severe degree” ( Child Welfare Gateway,
Out of the 50 United States, 19 have specific procedures when reporting an illegal substance exposed newborn. Out of those 19, 12 states include this situation in their child abuse and neglect child welfare laws. With the growing issue of children being exposed to illegal substance abuse, many states have modified their child abuse and neglect laws to include the following: Manufacturing a controlled substance in the presence of a child or on premises occupied by a child, Exposing a child to, or allowing a child to be present where, chemicals or equipment for the manufacture of controlled substances are used or stored, Selling, distributing, or giving drugs or alcohol to a child, Using a controlled substance that impairs the caregiver’s ability to adequately care for the child, Exposing a child to the criminal sale or distribution of drugs(Child Welfare Information Gateway, …show more content…
South Dakota “‘Abused or neglected child’ includes a child: Who was subject to prenatal exposure to abusive use of alcohol, marijuana, or any controlled drug or substance not lawfully prescribed by a practitioner as authorized by statute” ( Child Welfare Gateway, 2003).
Wisconsin “‘Abuse,’ other than when used in referring to abuse of alcohol beverages or other drugs, means any of the following: When used in referring to an unborn child, serious physical harm inflicted on the unborn child, and the risk of serious physical harm to the child when born, caused by the habitual lack of self-control of the expectant mother of the unborn child in the use of alcoholic beverages, controlled substances, or controlled substance analogs, exhibited to a severe degree” ( Child Welfare Gateway,