Should Substance Dependent Women be Held in Custody when Pregnant?

The assignment explores the topic of substance dependence during pregnancy, highlighting the risks and consequences for both the mother and unborn child. It argues that holding substance-dependent pregnant women in custody can help prevent harm to themselves and their babies, ensuring a safer and healthier environment for all parties involved.

Running head: SUNSTANCE DEPENDENT WOMEN SHOULD BE HELD IN CUSTODY
WHEN PREGNANT 1
Substance Dependent Women should be Held in Custody when Pregnant
Student’s name
Institutional Affiliation

SUBSTANCE DEPENDENT WOMEN SHOULD BE HELD IN CUSTODY WHEN
PREGNANT 2
Substance Dependent Women should be held in Custody when Pregnant
Introduction
The life of an unborn child is priceless and must always be treated as such. Pregnant
women must guard their lives as that of their unborn child. Substance dependent women should
be held in custody when pregnant because the life of the child could as well depend on their
ability to remain safe during their pregnancy (Armeniana et al. 2017).
Theme Line
Substance dependence deprives the user the ability to think straight, the power to make
an independent judgment and increases vulnerability to mistakes. Substance dependent pregnant
mothers face an even greater risk of danger (Cicarone et al. 2017).
Point One
Pregnancy is a delicate stage that requires sound judgment and sanity of mind for fetal
development. Drugs decrease the will of the mothers, and their ability to make sane judgment
Inability to make rational sense makes them vulnerable to self-harming tendencies (Cicero et al.
2017).
Point Two
Holding substance-abusing pregnant women could their only chances of survival and that
of their babies. According to research, legal or illegal use of drugs has a negative impact on the
fetal development (Snyder et al. 2011).
Conclusion Point
The need for nutrients is significant during pregnancy. Mothers are in need of iron, and
the fetus is in need of a balanced diet to keep away diseases and infection. Abuse of drugs
interferes with the flow of nutrients to the fetus.

SUBSTANCE DEPENDENT WOMEN SHOULD BE HELD IN CUSTODY WHEN
PREGNANT 3
Theme Line
References
Armeniana, P., Barr-Walker, J., & Lynch, K. (2017). Fentanyl, Fentanyl Analogs, and Novel
Synthetic Opioids: A Comprehensive Review. The Historical Journal, 58(4), 1009 -
1029.
Cicarone, D., Ondocsin, J., & Mars, S. (2017). Heroin uncertainties: Exploring users’
perceptions of fentanyl-adulterated and -substituted ‘heroin.’ (A. Destenay, Trans.)
Clinica Chimica Acta, 40(1), 146-155.
Cicero, T., Ellis, M., & Kasper, Z. (2017). Increases in self-reported fentanyl use among a
population entering drug treatment: The need for systematic surveillance of illicitly
manufactured opioids. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 177(1), 101-103.
Snyder, M. L., Jarolim, P., & Melanson, S. E. (2011). A new automated urine fentanyl
immunoassay: Technical performance and clinical utility for monitoring fentanyl
compliance. (A. Destenay, Trans.) Clinica Chimica Acta, 412(11-12), 946-951.