Curriculum for Addiction Professionals > Competency 5: Continuing Care of Families Affected by FASD > 4. Legal Issues Related to Women Who Drink During Pregnancy
Competency 6: Legal Issues
Legal Issues Related to Women Who Drink During Pregnancy
Federal laws related to alcohol use
during pregnancy focus on prevention and treatment of FASD. State and local
laws vary. Some States, such as Hawaii and Montana, have laws authorizing
FASD prevention and treatment programs. Others, such as New Hampshire
and Rhode Island, require that information on FASD be available to couples
seeking marriage licenses.
Many States, such as Nevada and North
Carolina, require warning
signs about FASD to
be posted in places where alcohol is sold. At least one State, Missouri,
requires physicians to counsel pregnant patients about the dangers of alcohol
use. It is important for addiction professionals to stay abreast of
State laws related to alcohol use during pregnancy and their effect on treatment
and recovery.
Legal requirements, such as reporting
alcohol use during pregnancy or counseling patients about the dangers of
alcohol use during pregnancy, can affect treatment plans. They also may affect
the addiction professional’s interactions with other service providers,
such as the amount and type of information shared about a client.