Effects of abusing methadone, roxycodone, and xanax while pregnant

Someone I know is 19 weeks pregnant, and abuses roxycodones aka blues and xanax. She occasionally also throws some methadone into the mix. Im just wondering what the effects of this are and if anyone has any information I can use to scare her to stop. She thinks shes not abusing it and its ok, but its not! She's only been to the dr once because shes scared to go because of what they will say! Please help!!!

[Luckytwice]

While opiates alone aren't shown to cause any birth defects, Babies do go through the same terrible  withdrawals as any opiate addict.

And if she is taking other types of drugs, ecstasy, methamphetamine, Alcohol, sniffing,  heroin, etc.  She can cause that baby to be born with birth deformities, fetal alcohol syndrome, brain development problems.
Nobody has a right to do this to a child.

Perhaps you should discuss this anonymously with a local Child and Family Services Councillor, and find out what your options are. It's not just your friends best interests at stake now, the baby has a right to be born without permanent disabilities resulting from abuse within the womb.

I get very upset when I see this, I've seen so many children born with addiction, crack babies, fetal alcohol syndrome, mental retardation and aids as a result of their "mothers" not giving a damn and popping pills, sniffing glue, drinking, snorting and shooting and hooking  while they are pregnant.

My sister in-law takes  special needs babies and young children in as foster children. I  used to do a lot of volunteer work (and still do some) at homes for independent living for young adults with disabilities.  

It's not right that  anyone should be allowed to intentionally destroy a persons entire life like that.  If they choose to destroy their own, fine, but while they are in total control of someone else's, they should  be forced to live in a manner that does not put that baby's quality of life in jeopardy.

More power to you for doing whatever you can to make her stop. Look up pictures and stories of babies born to addicts that wouldn't give up their legal and illegal drug habits  while they were pregnant.

Help her stop if you can, but if she doesn't, and if she's drinking and taking other drugs that can cause permanent damage to that child, report her to CFS and her doctor if that's the  only choice she gives you. She may hate you for it, but the baby will love you for it. So will the mother in time.

[atthebeach]

she needs to get to her doctor and be honest with him.
if she doesnt have a script for the drugs, yes she is abusing them. she is self-medicating. she should also get into counseling.
if she stops using the baby will go through worse withdrawals then her and it could be fatal.
the baby could be taken from her at birth if they find drugs in her system.
if she has been honest with her doctor they will be prepared to help the baby through withdrawal and  are aware of her use, the baby wont be taken.
i will pray for them