27th October 2006
Call for Action on Unplanned
Addict Pregnancies
Extension of a successful drug addict
contraception scheme in the west of Scotland could save more babies from being
born into the life-threatening chaos of drug addicted households, MSP Duncan
McNeil, has told Health Minister, Andy Kerr.
The
Greenock and Inverclyde MSP says that giving drug-addicted mothers long-term,
reversible contraception is proving popular with the addicts themselves, but
that extending the scheme to addicts before they become pregnant would avoid
unplanned pregnancies and the inevitable consequences for the addict and their
family.
He
said:
“This
scheme already prevents more children being born into the life-threatening chaos
of a drug addict household.
“But
why are we waiting until an addict has had a child before offering them
contraception? We’re closing the
stable door after the horse has bolted.
“Why
can’t we step in before the damage is done?
“The
Executive is committed to improving contraception and family planning services
for addicts, so I have asked the Health Minister to investigate whether we can
step in earlier and save more children and families from this most tragic of
fates.”
The
Executive has a commitment, outlined in “Hidden Harm: Next Steps”, to
“improve contraception and family planning services for substance misusers”.
The document says that the Executive will, “work with NHS Boards and
local authorities to examine how the availability of contraceptives and family
planning advice for substance misusers can be improved within the context of
implementing the Executive’s 2005 report “Respect and Responsibility” - by
autumn 2006”
ENDS
Back to Current Press Releases
[ HOME ] [ News ] [ Report to the People ] [ Interact ] [ Links ] [ E-Mail ]
[ Copyright ] [ Directgov ] [ Scottish Parliament ]