THE SAD TRUTH

Judge Dynda Post and the prosecutors of Rogers County are to be commended
for protecting the rights of two drug-exposed fetuses (babies).

The ideal solution would be to get every drug-addicted mother into
rehabilitation -- and we should provide it for those who truly want it.
Unfortunately, some drug addicts don't want to quit using, others last only
a day or two in rehab or go through rehab several times before it "takes"
and, sadly, some never get off drugs even after decades of being in and out
of treatment.

The costs to the child and to society are just too high when we choose to
put the mother's rights first. Prematurity, early death, physical
deformities, developmental delays, mental retardation, at tention-span
deficits, future drug abuse and emotional problems are the sad legacy of
many children whose developing brains are prenatally bathed in narcotics.
Both the child and society pay for the special education, medical care and
therapies these children often require.

Unfortunately, there are no easy, simple or cheap answers to the problem of
drug abuse in our culture.

Barbara Wright, Tulsa

Barbara Wright is a certified child and parenting specialist and licensed
professional counselor with the Hillcrest Center for Women's Health.