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.