Pubdate: Thu, 01 Feb 2001
Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
Copyright: 2001 The Des Moines Register.
Contact:  P.O. Box 957, Des Moines IA 50304-0957
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Author: Jonathan Roos, Register Staff Writer

TREATMENT DEBATED FOR ADDICT MOTHERS

Republicans In A Senate Committee Vote To Order Hospitalization For Addicts 
Who Are Pregnant

Pregnant women who are hooked on drugs pose a serious health threat to 
their unborn children. Iowa lawmakers debated a controversial proposal 
Wednesday to deal with the problem.

A Senate committee approved, 7-6, an expansion of the state's civil 
commitment laws so that hospitalization can be ordered for a pregnant woman 
whose drug addiction is deemed likely to injure her fetus.

"It's one more tool to protect the unborn child," said Sen. John Redwine, a 
Sioux City physician and the Republican chairman of the Senate Human 
Resources Committee.

Sen. Johnie Hammond, an Ames Democrat, warned that the civil commitment 
plan could backfire. "The addicted woman is not going to seek prenatal 
care, especially if she thinks you're going to want to lock her up," 
Hammond said.

Most Republican committee members voted in favor of the bill, and Democrats 
were opposed.

"It sends a serious message that if you continue to do it, you will be 
ordered to get treatment for it," said Sen. David Miller, a Libertyville 
Republican.

Miller said he's been told that up to 10 percent of the children born in 
Wapello County have been affected by drugs taken by their mothers. The 
methamphetamine epidemic and alcohol get much of the blame.

"This is one of the serious and insidious forms of child abuse that we need 
to deal with," he said.

Critics of the bill said there are more effective, less punitive solutions 
to tackling what they agree is a serious problem. "We should put more money 
into substance abuse treatment programs," said Sen. Robert Dvorsky, a 
Coralville Democrat.

The Iowa Civil Liberties Union also opposes the legislation. "This is 
nothing more than an attack on those that are unprivileged," said Marty 
Ryan, a lobbyist for the group.

The bill now goes to the full Senate for more debate. A similar proposal 
passed the Senate last year but died in the House.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart