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Phase Three: Supporting Evidence & Counter Claims

Alexis Fiorello

Palm Beach State College

HSA4553

Dr. Michele Tiggle-Stephenson

10/30/2023
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Supporting Evidence/Claims
Thesis statement:

Pregnant women using prenatal drugs pose significant risks to both themselves and their

unborn children.

Evidence/Claim One
Topic Sentence:
Ignoring drug use during pregnancy raises serious ethical concerns regarding the health

and well-being of both the mother and the unborn child

Introduction of Evidence/State Evidence

It's been shown time and time again that drug usage during pregnancy is bad for mom

and baby. Prenatal drug exposure (Sithisarn & Bada, 2010) has been linked to an increase in

stillbirths, labor problems, and even maternal mortality, according to studies undertaken by the

National Institute on (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018) Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Explain Evidence
Neglecting such cases could lead to serious health effects for the mother and, potentially,

irreversible developmental difficulties for the fetus (Boyle, 2002). This emphasizes the moral

obligation of law enforcement and medical professionals to provide aid and care to the victim.

Evidence/Claim Two
Topic Sentence
Extensive studies have shown that prenatal drug exposure is hazardous to the health of

both the mother and the unborn child.

Introduction of Evidence/State Evidence

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Prenatal drug exposure has been shown to negatively affect the health of both the mother

and the developing child in numerous investigations. Both animals and people have been used in

these experiments. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association

(JAMA) Pediatrics found that babies who were exposed to opioids in the womb are more likely

to develop neonatal abstinence syndrome, a disorder characterized by withdrawal symptoms.

Explain Evidence
Many studies have linked prenatal drug use to negative outcomes in child development

(Mantovani & Calamandrei, 2014), including lower birth weight and a higher risk of subsequent

health problems for the child. The significance of discovery and treatment at an early stage is

further emphasized.

Evidence Claim Three

Topic Sentence
Numerous studies have established a clear link between prenatal drug exposure,

developmental challenges, and low birth weight in newborns.

Introduction of Evidence/State Evidence

Consistent evidence has linked prenatal drug (Pedersen, 2015) exposure to negative

developmental outcomes and low birth weight in infants. Over a hundred papers were analyzed

in a meta-analysis published in Pediatrics, and the results revealed that prenatal drug exposure

(Chandler & Lane, 2014) significantly increased the risk of low birth weight and developmental

delays.

Explain Evidence
Babies whose mothers used drugs during pregnancy have an increased chance of

developmental delays and are more likely to have a low birth weight, both of which have the
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potential to have long-lasting consequences on the infants' health as well as their cognitive

development. This highlights how important it is to provide support and intervention services at

an early stage.

Evidence Claim Four

Topic Sentence
Medical professionals widely recognize that drug use during pregnancy presents

substantial risks to both maternal and fetal well-being.

Introduction of Evidence/State Evidence

It is a well-established fact in the medical community that a mother who continues to take

drugs during her pregnancy poses serious risks to her own health and that of her unborn child.

Drug and alcohol use during pregnancy has been linked to adverse outcomes such as placental

abruption and preterm delivery, per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

(ACOG).

Explain Evidence
Exposure to drugs during pregnancy (Schaefer et al., 2011) can result in a variety of

unfavorable outcomes, such as premature birth, neonatal abstinence syndrome, and long-term

developmental difficulties. This underlines not only the essential role that law enforcement and

medical personnel play in protecting the health of pregnant women and their unborn children, but

also the urgent need for intervention and support.

Counterevidence/Claims
Counterevidence/Claim One
Summary of counterclaim
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Some argue that strict enforcement may deter pregnant women from seeking prenatal

care, potentially exacerbating risks.

Refuting the counterclaim with evidence

Better health outcomes for both mother and child have been shown in studies of pregnant

women with substance use disorders when they are provided with non-judgmental, supportive

treatment (Terplan et al., 2017). A compassionate approach, in addition to access to addiction

treatment, can considerably improve maternal and newborn outcomes, according to a study

published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.

Access to addiction treatment, social assistance, and targeted enforcement actions have all been

found to be effective in tackling this multifaceted problem (Cleary et al., 2020). This

comprehensive approach recognizes addiction as a complex, multifaceted problem with links to

underlying social and economic causes by this comprehensive approach. Helping pregnant

women beat addiction is good for mom and baby, and it's possible if they have access to the

resources they need.

Counterevidence/Claim Two

Summary of counterclaim
Critics contend that punitive measures alone may not address underlying causes of

substance use during pregnancy, such as addiction and socioeconomic factors.

Refuting the counterclaim with evidence

Addiction therapy, social assistance, and targeted enforcement actions are all necessary to

effectively address the complex nature of this issue. While efforts to enforce the law are

important, we can make greater progress toward a lasting solution by focusing on the underlying

reasons.
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In addition, an article from the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment underlines the usefulness

of integrated care models that offer holistic assistance to pregnant women who are also battling

substance use disorders. Addiction is often intertwined with a complicated web of variables that

necessitates a holistic approach to treatment thus, these models incorporate prenatal care, mental

health services, and social support into the recovery process.

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References

Boyle, R. J. (2002). Effects of certain prenatal drugs on the fetus and newborn. Pediatrics In

Review, 23(1), 17-24. https://doi.org/10.1542/pir.23.1.17

Chandler, L. S., & Lane, S. J. (2014). Children with prenatal drug exposure. Routledge.

Drugs for pregnant and lactating women. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/c2015-0-01263-1

Mantovani, A., & Calamandrei, G. (2014). Delayed Developmental Effects Following Prenatal

Exposure to Drugs. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 7(9), 859-

880. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612013397717

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2018). National Institute on drug abuse publications for

parents.

Pedersen, L. H. (2015). Prenatal antidepressant exposure and childhood autism spectrum

disorders: Cause for concern? Pediatric Drugs, 17(6), 443-

448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40272-015-0141-5

Schaefer, C., Peters, P. W., & Miller, R. K. (2011). Drugs during pregnancy and lactation:

Treatment options and risk assessment. Elsevier.

Sithisarn, T., & Bada, H. S. (2010). Prenatal drug exposure: Childhood behavior and cognitive

functioning. Cognitive and Behavioral Abnormalities of Pediatric

Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195342680.003.0069