Pregnant and Addicted to Drugs – Considering Adoption

Fighting drug addiction can feel like a losing battle. It’s hard to imagine that a single substance can control your whole life. If you are pregnant and addicted to drugs, you may be questioning your unborn child’s future. Struggling with a drug addiction is hard enough on its own, but add caring for another life into the mix, and it feels absolutely impossible. However, even if you are addicted to drugs, adoption is still possible. Adoption is always possible.

Our licensed staff is not here to judge your struggles or lifestyle choices. Rather, we are here to help you decide what is best for your baby, and support you and your choices. This includes whether or not you want to fight your addiction. If you choose to overcome your addiction and raise your child, we will assist you with resources and advice to find the right methadone program for you. If not, we will then happily educate you on our services. 

Here is some information to help you as you are making big decisions:

Adoption is Sometimes Best

While considering adoption, it is important to realize that adoption is not “giving up” or abandoning your baby. In fact, it is an investment in their future. Furthermore, choosing adoption while pregnant and addicted to drugs shows extreme bravery. It shows that you recognize the challenges of having an addiction and are willing to consider every option to give your child the best life possible. 

Additionally, having a preset adoption plan can be easier in the long run for birth mothers who are addicted to drugs. Doctors and nurses are legally allowed to test you and your baby for drugs if they suspect drug usage. A positive test result can result in Child Protective Services (CPS) becoming involved. But, if you have a preset adoption plan in place, this allows you to have more control over your child’s future, rather than someone else deciding for you.

Families are Waiting and Open to Connecting

While you may feel like your baby will have limited options when it comes to adoptive families due to your drug habits, that is not true. Many adoptive families are prepared to love your baby and welcome them with open arms — drug history and all. These special families are prepared to handle any future issues that your child may face as a result of drug usage, whether they be physical or mental. They understand the additional struggles you endured as someone who is or was pregnant and addicted to drugs, and will not hold that against you or your child. 

Furthermore, certain adoptive families may be willing to stay connected to you. Open adoptions are becoming more common each and every day, allowing birth parents to stay connected to their child. As someone who struggles with addiction, you may have to work very hard to beat that addiction first, but open adoptions are still an option for you. Your past does not define you.

You Having Nothing to Fear

Chances are that placing your baby for adoption is the scariest choice you have ever made. However, we here at Adoption Choices of Arizona want you to know that you have nothing to fear. There is nothing wrong with choosing adoption when you are pregnant and addicted to drugs. You will not be in trouble, and we will not report you. You won’t go to jail. Your baby is not “unadoptable” because of your struggles. We can say with 100% certainty that there is a family out there who will love and care for your baby with their whole hearts.

If you want to begin fighting your addiction so that you can maybe one day become involved in your child’s life, talk to your caseworker. We are not a judgement system, we are a support system. Please know that everyone has their own struggles, some are just more visible than others. 

Keep fighting, girl, you got this!

For adoption resources or to begin your adoption journey, birth parents can visit us at Adoption Choices of Arizona or call or text us at 1-480-900-5520. If you are an prospective adoptive family hoping to adopt a baby, please instead, visit us here!

Meet the Author: Grace Myers is a sophomore Digital Media major at North Greenville University As a firm believer that every individual has a story to tell, and a right to be properly represented, she loves meeting new people and learning their stories. 

When she’s not writing, you can find her listening to music or cuddling with her dog, Sundae.