- Substance Abuse in Pregnant Teenagers
- On chapter seven of her book, Farber illustrates how drug abuse affects adolescent girls during pregnancy (2009). Consumption of harmful drugs affects pregnant teenagers together with the child they intend to bear. Farber indicates that although the rate of consumption of substance abuse among teenagers has significantly dropped in the recent years, serious steps ought to take place in order to curb the menace (2009). Most teenage girls abuse drugs although in primary level during their pregnancy. Other young teens consume cocaine although in low levels compared to adults even when they are expecting to have a child. Use of methamphetamine among teenage mothers has increased in a high rate compared to other substance abuse in the recent years. There is quit a large number of pregnant teens who consume alcohol during expectancy (Farber, 2009).
- Farber outlines that the number of teens who consume drugs in America is high compared to other countries (2009). Number of American teenage girls consuming drugs has decreased in a considerable level. According to Farber, substance abuse affects the Hispanic young teens in a large number that creates a worrying situation (2009). Drug abuse results into major risks that affect the teens and their unborn children even when they are not yet born. Substance abuse among the teenage girls can result into miscarriage. Many teenage girls who abuse drugs experience premature births. The girls who consume substance abuse have a high percentage of giving birth to low weighing babies. Teenage mothers indicate a history of using oral contraceptives while they actively engage in sex as a drive of drug abuse. The contraceptives are related to causing various problems in future to the teenagers (Farber, 2009).
- In addition, young girls who abuse drugs may give birth to babies that exhibit the primary signs of addiction at birth (Farber, 2009). The teenager girls who abuse drugs give birth to babies that experience quit a number of behavioral problems in infancy. A large number of babies born by teenagers who abuse drugs experience a variety of cognitive problems (Farber, 2009). According to Farber children of teenagers who abuse drugs have difficulties in their academic work later in life (2009). The child given birth to a young mother who abuse may be incarcerated at certain periods. The babies of young teens who abuse drugs get psychological infection that later affect their life. Moreover, girls who are born by teen mothers who abuse drugs are more likely to give birth during their adolescence years. Many young mothers experience difficulties in life like chaos and imprisonment while abusing drugs (Farber, 2009).
- According to Farber, the teenagers who give birth are likely to be abusive to their children (2009). A number of young mothers have quit a large number of cases of neglecting their children compared to adult mothers. Many young mothers who abuse drugs are reported to be associated with high cases of depression. Most young teenagers engage in behaviors like having unprotected sex that bring horrible repercussion in their future life. A large number of teenage girls are reported to have contacted the HIV virus while they abuse drugs. A part from the HIV virus, other common transmitted diseases include Gonorrhea and Chlamydia (Farber, 2009).According to Farber, prior attention ought to take place in order to save the lives of teenage mothers especially in America (2009). The society ought to employ moral values to the young teenagers in order to prevent the cases of drug abuse and early pregnancy.
- References
- Farber, N. (2009). Adolescent pregnancy: policy and prevention services. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
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