Arizona Baby Born Drug-Addicted
A Sierra Vista, Arizona mother has been arrested after giving birth to a drug-addicted baby. Police arrested the mother on suspicion of child abuse and neglect after she gave birth to an infant that had critical levels of methamphetamine and marijuana in its system.
The mother is the first person in Cochise County, Arizona to be arrested under the state's new neglect law that allows for the prosecution of a mother who uses illegal drugs while pregnant.
The National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare estimates 400,000 to 440,000 babies are born exposed to prenatal alcohol or illicit drugs each year. That is 10-11 percent of all births or approximately 1 in every 10 births.
Drug use during pregnancy can cause complications such as premature births, low birth weight and heart problems. Infants are often born already addicted to the mother’s drug of choice and suffer severe withdrawal symptoms.
Children are the voiceless, defenseless victims of drug abuse and addiction.
To read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/08/18/20100818arizona-baby-born-drug-addicted-mom-arrested.html#ixzz0x4HjgSE8
