Cincinnati mother describes struggle to get clean: 'I'm pregnant and I'm a heroin addict'

[The Straight Story]

CINCINNATI – Three years ago, a 25-year-old Cincinnati woman named Jamie was pregnant with her first daughter.

She was also addicted to heroin.

"I was scared to get help,” Jamie said. “I was scared to go into a doctor's office and say, 'Hey, I’m pregnant and I’m a heroin addict.'"

Jamie, who asked for her last name to be withheld, is part of a troubling and surging group of statistics in the Tri-State involving babies born into addiction.

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/im-pregnant-and-im-a-heroin-addict

[Warpy]

1. I knew a woman years ago whose doctors told her to stay on the drug

because the pregnancy was a difficult one and the stress of getting clean would have jeopardized it. He didn't go far enough by prescribing a clean supply of prescription opiate (which always seemed both cruel and counterproductive), he just cautioned her against cold turkey and fast tapers.

Her daughter had a rough first few days but was a delight, talking like a four year old when she'd barely turned two. My friend was a good mom and her daughter thrived. I lost touch long ago, but I hope mom got clean eventually.

Now of course they just snatch the kid away and that's the end to it. Any woman who does drugs is scum and doesn't deserve to raise her own child. Three cheers for the drug war.

[Control-Z]

2. There is so much emotional pain

and stress in our lives today. And so little hope for many. I just cannot judge anyone who finds relief through drugs. And anyone who has a drink, or 5, after work is in no position to judge. (Politicians, religious nuts, forced birthers. )

When a pregnancy happens, the woman has to deal with it in real time, by who she is and what she wants the day she finds out. Not some mythical time that she had hoped to one day achieve.

She needs every option to be available to her including rehab, drug maintenance, and abortion.

[Jesus Malverde]

3. Terrible dilemma...nt