
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 19, 1990                   TAG: 9004190806
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RUSTBURG                                LENGTH: Short

AGENCY TACKLES ISSUE OF PREGNANT WOMEN'S DRUG USE

The state Board of Social Services has begun wrestling with the problem of pregnant women who use drugs.

The board, at a meeting here Wednesday, was told it may be asked to decide if such use constitutes child abuse or neglect. About six weeks ago the board sought Attorney General Mary Sue Terry's opinion on the issue, which has not yet been received.

If drug use by pregnant women is defined as child abuse, that would mean social workers would have to investigate the drug allegations just as they do for reports of beatings or neglect. "It is not a simple dilemma," said Demis Stewart, director of service programs for the state.

A report on the drug use issue was presented by Lynda Eubank of the Virginia League of Social Services Executives.

The report said that a hospital in one Northern Virginia community over a 10-month period found that 76 of 87 high-risk mothers were cocaine users, eight were heroin users and three used PCP.

Of the 74 living deliveries, 21 were premature, low birth weight or required intensive care, the study found. Thirty-eight required a monitor to assess breathing problems.

"This suggests that more than one out of two infants born under such circumstances sustain life-threatening risk," the study said.

The study said the children will probably need special assistance and have an impact on the foster-care system.

by CNB