- Conference
- 2009 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 22 October 2008
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
This National Women’s Conference is concerned at the impact that substance abuse can have on pregnant women and their babies. Substances that can affect the foetus are:
1)Cannabis
2)Heroin
3)Methadone
4)Cocaine
5)Crack cocaine
6)Crystal methamphetamine
7)Prescription drugs
8)Nicotine
9)Alcohol
Education on the hazards of misusing substances during pregnancy is urgently required and the Government should be urged to build this into its campaigns such as “Frank” to highlight especially to young women the dangers to themselves and their unborn children.
This National Women’s Conference calls on the National Women’s Committee to:
a)Liaise with UNISON’s Labour Link to raise with the Government the need to further research into the impact of the misuse of substances on women and their unborn children including foetal alcohol syndrome and to educate about the dangers of substance abuse in pregnancy;
b)Recirculate information on the newly revised UNISON pregnancy diary which contains helath information for women who are pregnant or who wish to become pregnant.