LONG-TERM BIRTH CONTROL FOR ADDICTS

Editor -- As the adoptive parents of two children prenatally exposed to
drugs, we agree 100 percent that women of childbearing age who wish to have
long term or permanent birth control options should be paid to do so
(Chronicle, September 7). The alternative cost in time and finances for
children with special needs is staggering and help is not available.

We would love to make a monetary contribution to the "CRACK" organization,
but we can't because our kids need speech, occupational, physical and
behavior therapies, continual medical attention and costly special diets,
none of which is paid for by insurance or government programs.

Marsha Rosenbaum's statement about genocide is misleading hyperbole. Both
our children's birth mothers were non-black, and gave them up for adoption
acknowledging that they were unable to care for them. One mother was a
13-year-old crack user and the other was a 39- year-old chronic alcoholic.
This woman had given birth to six other children who were prenatally exposed
to drugs and alcohol.

These two mothers did not intend harm for their babies, but as addicts, they
were unable to make sound choices. Helping these women through birth control
to protect themselves, their children and society, is not genocide.

Permanent sterilization is one option, but not required, for this program to
work. If a woman chooses long-term birth control methods, they can be
reversed when she has become clean and sober.

Denise Cartmill, Keith Endow, San Francisco