Pregnancy and addiction: translating research into practice

Abstract

In some areas of the United States pregnant women are incarcerated if they are addicted to illegal substances, particularly crack cocaine. However, incarceration does not happen to all pregnant addicts, but instead reflects racial/ethnic and socioeconomic categories of prejudice. In the following article, the authors suggest that analysis of this pattern of incarceration is clarified by the use of critical medical anthropology perspective with its explicit historical, political and economic foci. In addition, the authors introduce a program for addicted women that incorporates into practice the findings of the initial research and demonstrates how research can be translated into practice.