By AFA Journal
August 30, 2004
(AgapePress) - Substance abuse is a likely characteristic of women who abort their first unintended pregnancy as revealed in a report published by the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
The report's claims are based on data gathered from 1,893 women over a nine-year period (1979-1988) through the National Longitude Survey of Youth. The study examined the alcohol and drug use of women following their first unintended pregnancy -- some of whom had an abortion and some of whom did not. None of the women had a prior history of substance abuse.
The study revealed that the women who opted to end their pregnancies through abortion are more likely to use drugs and alcohol than those who carried their babies to term.
"The rate of substance abuse tends to be related to how the unintended pregnancy is dealt with," said Dr. James Reardon, who co-authored the report with James Cougle.
Cougle explained to The Washington Times about the seriousness of psychological damage resulting from abortion and said he believes women should be well-informed of such consequences prior to terminating their pregnancies.
The damage and links between substance abuse and abortion are reflected in the following findings*:
Pregnancy Aborted | Pregnancy NOT Aborted | |
Marijuana abuse | 18.6 percent | 7.9 percent |
Cocaine usage | 5 percent | 2 percent |
Alcohol abuse | 8.4 percent | 4.5 percent |
* All statistics are based on the first unintended pregnancy
This article appeared in the September 2004 issue of AFA Journal, a monthly publication of the American Family Association.
© 2004 AgapePress all rights reserved.
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