What do you think?

WasNotWas

Tennessee has passed a law allowing women who use drugs while pregnant to be prosecuted for assault for the illegal use of a narcotic while pregnant. While some worry that it will deter addicted pregnant women from getting help, the law allows the defense of getting treatment during and after birth.

The first woman was charged under the law: https://www.buzzfeed.com/mbvd/first-woman-charged-under-new-pregnancy-drug-law-in-tennesse

WasNotWas

I think it's really gross that this woman clearly knew she was pregnant and still chose to do meth, but I worry about women who don't know they are pregnant getting charged. Either way drugs are illegal, but, like I drank the night before I took a pregnancy test, so could the law evolve to my getting charged?

WasNotWas

@steamboat123 said:

Doing meth is a bad idea, but does the state offer a treatment program at low cost?

I can't find anything about the cost but I did find something that said only two of the state-run treatment programs are mother-friendly (like allowing the kid to be with the mother or providing prenatal care)

WasNotWas

I also think it's such a man thing to think that the risk of the law is of greater consequence to a woman than the risk to your baby.

LBeez13

Wow. I don't know what to think about that. It's crazy that a mom would do meth while pregnant. I think if the consequence would be detox and receiving help then all for the new law.

Monkeybutt80

I don't really get the rationale on this one. The lawmakers think that this new law will deter pregnant women from doing illegal drugs, yet, regardless of being pregnant or not, it is already illegal to use these drugs. Unless doing drugs while pregnant carries much higher punishment, if you aren't deterred by the fact that it is simply illegal to do meth, I don't see how the new law will deter additional people. 

It seems to be that this may do little to deter pregnant people from doing drugs, and rather deter drug users from getting the prenatal care in the fear of getting prosecuted.