Olsen Anna
The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Drug Alcohol Rev. 2015 Jan;34(1):27-30. doi: 10.1111/dar.12219. Epub 2014 Oct 30.
New amendments to child welfare policy in New South Wales turn a spotlight on parents who use drugs and raise concerns about adequate provision of services for families facing issues with alcohol and other drug use. Sections of the new legislation are explicitly focused on parents who use illicit drugs, expanding the reach of child protection services over expectant parents during pregnancy. This targeting of women who are 'addicted' highlights the ambiguous scientific and moral attention to drug use in pregnancy. It also raises practical questions about the potential for the legislation to increase stigma towards drug use and disproportionately affect vulnerable and disadvantaged families.
