ASAM Recommends States Reverse Punitive Approaches That Deter Access To Medical Care for Pregnant and Postpartum People

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) recommends that lawmakers and child protective services eliminate punitive policies and statutes that deter people who are pregnant or postpartum from obtaining medical care, including addiction treatment. ASAM specifically called for eliminating state legislation defining in-utero substance exposures as child abuse and neglect, and for the federal government to incentivize states to implement non-punitive, evidence-based, public health-driven approaches for substance use disorder (SUD) in pregnant and postpartum people. The organization recommends that public policy ensure that pregnant and postpartum people can access medical care, including addiction treatment, without fear . . .