It is an unarguable fact: Pregnant people use opioids and other drugs. The stigma and discrimination they face, including when seeking prenatal care, can lead to worse outcomes for them and their babies.
Stigma and discrimination are also deep-rooted in our legal and child protection systems. These systems often focus on punishing people who use drugs rather than helping them to access treatment. Not all pregnant people are screened equally for potential drug use. Who gets tested and reported by providers depends on a person’s epidemic in the 1980s, with the media labeling infants as ‘crack babies.’ Widespread fears of severe and irreversible developmental damage has now been Providing prenatal care is advantageous to all, regardless of whether the pregnant person wants to access substance use treatment.
We must roll back punitive policies and create non-stigmatizing medical environments that can support pregnant people who use drugs. In Volkow’s words, we must move “beyond stigma toward compassion and with it, improved care.”
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