“I have been using drugs during my pregnancy. I’m thinking about adoption, but now I’m worried that it’s not a choice I can make. Will anyone want to adopt my baby? Can I still put my baby up for adoption?”
Yes, you can still choose adoption for your baby, even if you’ve used drugs during pregnancy or been drinking while pregnant. Whether you’re currently using or working through treatment, there is no adoption requirement that prevents you from placing your baby because of drug use. Lifetime Adoption is here to help you build an adoption plan without judgment. Call or text us at 1-800-923-6784 anytime, even right now.
If you think you might test positive for drugs when your baby is born, having an adoption plan in place ahead of time can help keep Child Protective Services or the Department of Children and Family Services from getting involved. With adoption, you stay in control of what happens next, and you can even choose to stay in touch with your baby’s adoptive family afterward.
A note on language: you may notice we use the phrase “put my baby up for adoption” throughout this article. It isn’t a phrase we’d choose ourselves. Most women today talk about “placing” their child, since adoption isn’t about giving up on anything, but about making a thoughtful choice for your baby’s future. We use it here because it’s how many women searching for answers phrase the question, and we want you to find the help you need.
Adoptive Families Open to Prenatal Drug Exposure
Plenty of hopeful adoptive parents are ready to welcome a baby, no matter your usage history. Lifetime has families specifically open to prenatal drug exposure, and they come with the resources and support to parent a baby who needs extra care.
You can also stay part of your child’s life afterward through an open adoption. Browse adoptive family profiles to see photos, read their stories, and watch their adoption videos before you choose.
Why Being Honest About Drug Use Helps Your Adoption Plan
Being open with your Adoption Coordinator about when, how much, and what you used helps Lifetime match you with a family who’s genuinely prepared for it.
It also means the adoptive family and hospital staff can plan ahead. For example, helping a baby wean safely if he or she is born dependent on a substance. None of this is used against you; it’s used to build the right plan for your baby.
What Happens if You Test Positive for Drugs While Pregnant?
Expectant mothers often ask, “Can I still put my baby up for adoption if I’ve been drinking while pregnant?” or “What happens if I test positive for drugs while pregnant?” The answer is the same either way: yes, you can still choose adoption.
Women come to adoption from every kind of background, and unplanned pregnancy sometimes intersects with addiction or substance use. But that doesn’t change your options. Lifetime Adoption will help you create an adoption plan without judgment.
Having a plan in place before delivery is one of the best ways to limit involvement from child welfare agencies. Testing positive doesn’t mean you’re in trouble or that it’s too late to move forward. You can start an adoption plan immediately.
Sharing information with Lifetime never leads to punishment. It only helps us find you an adoptive family already prepared for the realities of substance exposure. A mother who chooses adoption for her baby is making a brave, loving decision, regardless of the circumstances that brought her here.
How Lifetime Adoption Supports Women Using Drugs During Pregnancy
Beyond matching you with a family, Lifetime can connect you with a licensed therapist and help you access prenatal care. Your Adoption Coordinator will share those records and your medical history with your chosen adoptive family (personal identifying details removed). In some states, adoptive families can also help with your medical costs.
Whatever led you here, disclosing drug use during pregnancy will never result in punishment. It simply helps us match you with parents ready for whatever your baby may need.
Call or text Lifetime Adoption at 1-800-923-6784 to talk through your options. The process is more straightforward than you might think, and it’s completely confidential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put my baby up for adoption if I used drugs during pregnancy?
Yes. There is no adoption requirement or law that prevents you from placing your baby for adoption because of drug or alcohol use during pregnancy.
What happens if I test positive for drugs when my baby is born?
Testing positive doesn’t disqualify you from adoption or mean you’re in legal trouble. Having an adoption plan in place before delivery can help limit involvement from the Department of Children and Family Services/Child Protective Services.
Will Child Protective Services get involved if I’ve been using drugs?
Making an adoption plan ahead of time gives you a say in your baby’s future and can reduce the chances of state intervention compared to not having a plan.
Do I have to tell my adoption agency about my drug use?
Being honest about your substance use helps your Adoption Coordinator find you couples who are prepared and willing to support a baby with prenatal drug exposure. It will not be used against you.
Can I still choose adoption if I’m currently using drugs or in rehab?
Yes. Whether you’re actively using or currently in treatment, you can still create an adoption plan for your baby with Lifetime Adoption.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on July 5, 2016, and has since been updated.
As Vice President of Lifetime Adoption, Heather Featherston holds an MBA and is passionate about working with those facing adoption, pregnancy, and parenting issues. Heather has conducted training for birth parent advocates, spoken to professional groups, and has appeared on television and radio to discuss the multiple aspects of adoption. She has provided one-on-one support to women and hopeful adoptive parents working through adoption decisions.
Since 2002, she has been helping pregnant women and others in crisis to learn more about adoption. Heather also trains and speaks nationwide to pregnancy clinics to effectively meet the needs of women who want to explore adoption for their child. Today, she continues to address the concerns women have about adoption and supports the needs of women who choose adoption for their child.
As a published author of the book Called to Adoption, Featherston loves to see God’s hand at work every day as she helps children and families come together through adoption.
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