Expectant Moms On Drugs Get Help

Mon., July 1, 1996

Elana Jefferson Staff writer

“I didn’t realize the drugs I was using could harm my baby. I was only five months pregnant at the time,” reported one pregnant and addicted woman to her drug counselor. “The cocaine helped me with down times. … And the marijuana, well, I just had a hard time relaxing.”

Sue Greenfelder, a chemical dependency case manager at Deaconess Medical Center, says combining area resources is key in fighting drug use during pregnancy. A study last year indicated that 8 percent of babies in Spokane are born to mothers who used drugs. Greenfelder says the study motivated her peers in health and social service organizations. “It validated that we were not serving the people of Spokane as we could be.”

Collaboration resulted in a network of care providers working to confront the problem. Driven by Deaconess Medical Center, a team worked to inform hospitals, doctors, nonprofits, churches and schools about the services available for pregnant women using drugs.

Now the number of pregnant women seeking education or treatment is up. But misperceptions still prevent many from coming forward. Some women think drug-dependency is a problem associated with low-income or indigent people, which is not true. Others fear they will face legal action, or be forced to go through intense treatment when they are only recreational users. Greenfelder says she assesses each woman’s needs before deciding what to do. If an expecting mom is experimenting with cocaine, for instance, education may be enough. “I tell her to learn about what it’s going to do to the baby,” she says. “It empowers her to make a decision instead of having to deal with guilt or remorse after the fact.”

Through the coalition to reduce drug use during pregnancy, not only can Greenfelder locate treatment for drug or alcohol addiction, she can also help pregnant women find food, affordable housing, clothing or medical care.

“As a community we’re coming together for the moms,” she says. “And it feels great!”

If you or someone you know needs information about drug use during pregnancy, call Sue Greenfelder at 458-7314 or Barb Richey at the Spokane County Health Department, 324-1411.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: Inspired by the Spokane County Health Improvement Partnership, Discoveries highlights people making a difference. If you have a discovery that deserves recognition, write to: Elana Jefferson, Editorial Department, The Spokesman-Review, 999 W. Riverside Ave., Spokane, 99201.

Inspired by the Spokane County Health Improvement Partnership, Discoveries highlights people making a difference. If you have a discovery that deserves recognition, write to: Elana Jefferson, Editorial Department, The Spokesman-Review, 999 W. Riverside Ave., Spokane, 99201.

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