ParentLine
Dear ParentLine,
My daughter-in-law has a drinking problem and I just found out that she’s pregnant. I am terribly afraid of the effect this may have on our grandchild. We’ve tried to get help for her, but it’s still a problem. Please, please, please help!
Signed Grandma and Grandpa D. in Rockingham County
In order to help your daughter-in-law help herself and her unborn child, you must be aware that alcoholism is a disease; a disease with implications as serious as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Unfortunately, two major symptoms of this disease are denial and relapse. If this young woman can’t or won’t stop drinking, not only does she place herself at risk, but she also places the child she’s carrying at risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
The experts at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (www.samhsa.gov) state that FASD is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects may include physical effects such as brain damage, facial anomalies, growth deficiencies, defects of the heart, kidneys, and liver, vision and hearing problems, skeletal defects and dental abnormalities. FASD can also cause mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications.
You are right to be extremely concerned. It’s important that you and the child’s father become educated about FASD and then, you all must help your daughter-in-law access the range of resources available to help her get and stay sober for her sake and the sake of her baby. Fortunately, families that are dealing with the alcohol addiction of a pregnant woman can now access an innovative new statewide program.
According to JoAnn Cobb, program director for Child and Family Services’ Early Supports & Services and Family Support programs, “Child and Family Services was recently awarded a federally-funded grant from SAMHSA titled, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - Prevention Program for Pregnant Women. This grant is based on best practice research done in successful programs in California. New Hampshire is one of five states, nation-wide, to implement this program. However, we are the only state to do so through our Home Visiting network. Child and Family Services has five sites for this program and has enlisted twelve other Home visiting NH programs across the state to be part of this ground-breaking initiative.”
Cobb reports that in New Hampshire, if a woman signs up for a home visiting program, she will be screened for alcohol use. “If she tests positive,” Cobb says, “she will get a brief intervention. If she continues to use, she will get an intervention at every visit until she stops drinking. The program also provides referral to treatment centers across the state. We urge pregnant women who use alcohol to call Child and Family Services at 1-800-640-6486 to see if they are eligible for the Home Visiting NH program.”
The experts at SAMSHA warn that, unfortunately, many women who need alcohol treatment may not receive it. The reasons include the lack of money or child care; fear of losing custody of their children; or other barriers. For successful recovery, women often need a continuum of care for an extended period of time, including comprehensive inpatient or outpatient treatment for alcohol and other drugs, case management, counseling and other mental health treatment, medical and prenatal care, child care, transportation, follow-up pediatric and early intervention services for children, services that respond to women’s needs regarding reproductive health, sexuality, relationships, and victimization.
The SAMHSA website has a treatment facility locator. These treatment centers and facilities are located by state.
National Drug Treatment Centers 1-800-501-9330
National drug and alcohol treatment routing service: 1-800-662-4357
National Addiction Assistance Helpline (24 hr): 1-800-559-9503
Healthy Steps, 10 Prospect St, Ste 102, Nashua, NH 603-883-1626 Ext.108.
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ParentLine is a free and confidential service of Child and Family Services, a statewide, independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the well-being of children and families. Call ParentLine, 1-800-640-6486; write ParentLine, c/o Child and Family Services, P.O. Box 448, Manchester, NH; email parentline@cfsnh.org or visit our website at www.cfsnh.org.
