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Prenatal Exposure to Controlled Substances

NCJ Number
155987
Author(s)
E Shapiro; D K McKnight
Date Published
1994
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This document describes Minnesota State laws relating to the use of certain controlled substances by pregnant women.
Abstract
Minnesota law requires mandated reporters to identify pregnant women who use certain illegal drugs that may harm the fetus. The law outlines the duties of local welfare agencies and civil commitment conditions. The State Child Abuse Reporting Act requires reports of a child's prenatal exposure to drugs including heroin, cocaine, phencyclidine, amphetamine, or methamphetamine. Finally, State law requires a physician to give a toxicology test to a pregnant woman, or a woman who has delivered a baby within eight hours, if that woman displayed signs of complications resulting from use of illegal drugs.