Pubdate: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA) Copyright: 1999 San Francisco Chronicle Contact: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Forum: http://www.sfgate.com/conferences/ Author: Yvonne W. Wu, M.D. AN INCENTIVE FOR DRUG-ADDICTED MOMS Editor -- Although the article regarding birth-control cash incentives for drug-addicted women (September 7) was interesting and provocative, there are two important points that were not addressed. First, the program is not ``paying women $200 to be sterilized.'' It is giving women who do not wish to get pregnant a cash incentive to choose whether they want a permanent sterilization or a long-term contraceptive option that is fully reversible. Second, one must remember that most drug-addicted women do not choose to get pregnant over and over again. They are unable to prevent this pattern due to the circumstances around their addictive behavior. How can we help these women to stop having babies, if this is their wish? The incentive program seems to be one approach that could empower women to exercise their right to reproductive choice. Drug rehabilitation is clearly important, but for the women who do not make it into recovery, a little extra nudge to help them carry out their reproductive wishes seems to be an appropriate small step in improving a large and complicated problem. YVONNE W. WU, M.D. Child Neurology - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea