Can a woman who uses a controlled substance during pregnancy be prosecuted for child abuse? Must health care workers report substance use during pregnancy? The answer to these questions and others varies from state to state, with little consistency, according to a comparison of state laws and policies by Pro Publica, the non-profit investigative journalism organization. Their results, published in 2015, and available in an interactive map show that1,2:
1Miranda L, Dixon V, & Reyes C. (2015). How States Handle Drug Use During Pregnancy. Retrieved from https://projects.propublica.org/graphics/maternity-drug-policies-by-state. Accessed December 11, 2019.
2Guttmacher Institute. Substance use during pregnancy. Published 2015. Most recent update: January 1, 2020. https://www.guttmacher.org/statepolicy/explore/substance-use