With the full support of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, he signed, sealed and delivered a law that would enable prosecutors to go after pregnant women undergoing addiction issues such as relapse.
Tennessee has 177 addiction treatment facilities, only 2 of these facilities allow for older children to accompany the mother, only 19 offer specific addiction care for pregnant women. Obviously, this law targets the poorest of the poor in our society, we know that individuals who have the wherewithal can pay for private facilities and keep the state out of their business.
Rather than the state of Tennessee, expanding treatment facilities for expectant mothers suffering from addiction issues, they chose to criminalize these pregnant women and new mothers. Now you have women with possible felony assault charges on their record, so their dependency on the state is virtually locked in, not to mention the possible loss of their children. The state has just ruined any opportunity these women could've possibly had to become independent and find a decent job or gain educational assistance to enhance their hireability. Is the next step forced sterilization?
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