Sean Martin
March 1st, 2006, 01:10 PM
Pregnant Idaho moms could face jail for drug use
http://imgfarm.com/images/reuters/full/2006-03-01T131355Z_01_NOOTR_RTRIDSP_3_ODD-CRIME-MOTHERS-DC.jpg
A pregnant woman is seen through
a curtain in an undated photo.
Pregnant mothers caught using...
BOISE, Idaho (Reuters) - Pregnant mothers caught using illegal drugs could go to prison for endangering their unborn children under a bill passed by the Idaho State Senate on Tuesday.
"The first thing we're after is a drug-free baby," said State Sen. Denton Darrington, a Republican who said his eastern Idaho district is plagued by methamphetamine use. "Meth is a problem everywhere in the state of Idaho."
If the measure passes the Idaho House and receives the approval of Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, a Republican, the measure would be the first in the United States specifically to make it a crime for a pregnant woman to use illegal drugs.
If caught, individuals could first face drug treatment or drug court. Beyond that, however, judges have the option of sending mothers to jail for up to five years or imposing a $50,000 fine.
Women's health advocates say the proposed law is a recipe for more unhealthy mothers and, therefore, children.
"If you want to hurt babies, you pass this law," said Lynn Paltrow, the executive director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women. "Drug abuse is a health problem. Health care in prisons is hideous."
About one baby per month is delivered on average in the Pocatello, Idaho women's prison, said Darrington, and he conceded more babies could be born in prisons if his bill becomes law. "We don't know what the cost would be of delivering drug babies," the lawmaker said.
Opponents of the bill, which passed on an 18-16 vote in the Idaho Senate, said the law would discourage pregnant mothers from seeking treatment if they had used drugs.
"It would be the first frontal assault on infant health we've seen in a long time," Paltrow said.
http://reuters.myway.com/article/20060301/2006-03-01T131430Z_01_N28452186_RTRIDST_0_ODD-CRIME-MOTHERS-DC.html
http://imgfarm.com/images/reuters/full/2006-03-01T131355Z_01_NOOTR_RTRIDSP_3_ODD-CRIME-MOTHERS-DC.jpg
A pregnant woman is seen through
a curtain in an undated photo.
Pregnant mothers caught using...
BOISE, Idaho (Reuters) - Pregnant mothers caught using illegal drugs could go to prison for endangering their unborn children under a bill passed by the Idaho State Senate on Tuesday.
"The first thing we're after is a drug-free baby," said State Sen. Denton Darrington, a Republican who said his eastern Idaho district is plagued by methamphetamine use. "Meth is a problem everywhere in the state of Idaho."
If the measure passes the Idaho House and receives the approval of Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, a Republican, the measure would be the first in the United States specifically to make it a crime for a pregnant woman to use illegal drugs.
If caught, individuals could first face drug treatment or drug court. Beyond that, however, judges have the option of sending mothers to jail for up to five years or imposing a $50,000 fine.
Women's health advocates say the proposed law is a recipe for more unhealthy mothers and, therefore, children.
"If you want to hurt babies, you pass this law," said Lynn Paltrow, the executive director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women. "Drug abuse is a health problem. Health care in prisons is hideous."
About one baby per month is delivered on average in the Pocatello, Idaho women's prison, said Darrington, and he conceded more babies could be born in prisons if his bill becomes law. "We don't know what the cost would be of delivering drug babies," the lawmaker said.
Opponents of the bill, which passed on an 18-16 vote in the Idaho Senate, said the law would discourage pregnant mothers from seeking treatment if they had used drugs.
"It would be the first frontal assault on infant health we've seen in a long time," Paltrow said.
http://reuters.myway.com/article/20060301/2006-03-01T131430Z_01_N28452186_RTRIDST_0_ODD-CRIME-MOTHERS-DC.html