Unintended Consequences of Policy Responses to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Civil Commitment and Community Sentiment in North Dakota

摘要: Policymakers are political system elites that may respond to, or even help lead, community sentiment. For any specific policy question, sentiment include preferences expressed by the mass public be limited to relevant of experts and insiders. In 2003, North Dakota state legislature unanimously added alcohol abuse during pregnancy existing laws against child neglect allowed for involuntary civil commitment treat women who violate law. Alcohol use pregnant can very costly a because risk fetal spectrum disorders (FASD), one strategy control is punish expectant mothers as criminals. This chapter presents analysis Dakota’s approach reducing prenatal use. Searches in media reports legislative history suggested subsystem insider stakeholders was impetus this change. Stunted discourse driven positive, neutral, uninformed leads variety negative outcomes society. The highlights effects law suggests better alternatives.