Over 23 million Americans over the age of 12 are addicted to alcohol or drugs. Many drugs, both illegal and prescription, are harmful to a developing fetus and a vast majority of these are highly addictive. In a 2010 report by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, only 19 states had drug treatment programs for pregnant women and only nine of those gave priority access to pregnant women.

     When a mother uses harmful substances during a pregnancy they are putting their child at risk for many physical and psychological complications in the future. The most common is called Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, which does not have an official definition; essentially it is an physical addiction in the baby as a result of the repeated exposure to the drug in the womb.

    Many pregnant women cannot afford rehab as their special needs result in a higher bill than the average person. A pregnant women should be able to access the necessary treatment, in order to ensure the physical and psychological safety of our future generations.

   As a result, I am petitioning for the establishment of a government program to provide monetary help to pregnant women for the sole purpose of ridding themselves of their addiction and leading us to a future full of physically and psychologically healthier society.