Though successful treatment programs do exist, without the proper and adequate personal support systems for the individual women with substance abuse histories relapse is highly indicated (Goler et al. 2008; Dowdell et al. 2009). Nursing practice must take this factor into account when prescribing and providing care and seeking out methods for the long-term health and wellness of pregnant and post-pregnant patients.

Changes to Nursing Practice

Current research suggests that the most effective manner in which nursing practice can be altered to combat and/or mitigate the effects of substance abuse during pregnancy is through early detection of abuse through effective screening processes (Neushotz & Fitzpatrick 2008; Cox et al. 2007; Goler et al. 2008). Substance abuse screening is an obvious first step in the treatment of substance abuse issues, and often the identification and acknowledgement with the patient of the substance abuse problem presents a major step forward in the...
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