M6 Discussion.
Purpose: The state of Florida does not consider neonatal exposure to drugs to be a criminal offense, however, every baby is drug screened at the time of birth. If the infant test positive for any substance then DCF is immediately notified and the child is not released until a full investigation and judicial disposition has been determined. Judicial disposition can range anywhere from parents maintain custody with safety planning and substance abuse assessment up to and include removal of the child from the biological parents and placed in the care of family or foster care until the biological parents can prove to be fit parents. The goal of this discussion is to examine attitudes towards women who use during pregnancy and the barriers to treatment that people’s reactions can have on the mother and developing fetus.
Instruction: Depending upon the state, exposing a neonate to substances while in the womb is considered child abuse and grounds for criminal charges and removal of the child once it is born. What are your opinions about women who use substances during pregnancy and what barriers do pressing charges and removal of the child present?
