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If you’re pregnant, make sure you
don’t use alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. If you use
alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, make sure you’re not
pregnant.
Nevada’s Perinatal Substance Abuse
Prevention (PSAP) Initiative began in 1995. Its mission is
to prevent substance abuse among women during the perinatal
period (pre-conception through lactation). Because substance
abuse during pregnancy can cause Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
and other substance-related birth defects, the emphasis of
the PSAP Initiative is upon preventing substance abuse
during pregnancy. The Initiative is largely comprised of the
efforts of the PSAP Subcommittee of the Maternal and Child
Health Advisory Board and the PSAP Coordinator.
Summit
Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders/Healthy Babies and Children Click
here for details.
Substance abuse takes on new
meaning in the context of pregnancy because substance use
that would otherwise be safe can harm a fetus. This is true
of alcohol, tobacco, many prescription and over-the-counter
medications, and many illegal drugs. The problem of the
fetus’ sensitivity to alcohol and other drugs is compounded
by about half of all pregnancies being unplanned, and some
drugs (such as alcohol) having their most harmful effects on
the fetus early in pregnancy. This means that a woman who
uses alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs can harm her
baby-to-be even before she knows she’s pregnant.
If you’re pregnant and have been
drinking or using, don’t panic. While there is a chance that
you may have harmed your baby, the chances are far greater
that your baby will be just fine if you get prenatal care
and quit drinking or using. If you are pregnant and have
been drinking or using:
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Using substances during
pregnancy is not child abuse under Nevada law, so you
can get help without having to worry about being
reported for child abuse.
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Substance abuse treatment
programs funded through the Nevada Bureau of Alcohol and
Drug Abuse make affordable treatment available to
pregnant women whether or not they have financial
resources or health insurance. Pregnant women are given
admission priority at these programs and some programs
are specialized to the needs of pregnant women.
Two of the sidebar buttons may be
especially helpful to those dealing with substance abuse
during pregnancy:
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The “Nevada Resources” sidebar
provides information on resources available to the
community, including information on how to contact
treatment programs.
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The “Links to Resources and
Other Information” provides a series of links to
organizations and publications on the Internet relating
to perinatal substance abuse.
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