Can I Choose Adoption for My Baby If I'm Using or In Treatment?

If you are struggling with addiction now and you are pregnant, or you have recently given birth, you might be wondering if now is the right time for you to be a Mom to a new baby. If you decide that you want to look into options other than you taking the baby home and raising him/her, you may end up wanting to learn more about voluntary adoption. Your next question might be whether you can choose adoption for your baby if you are in active addiction or in treatment? And, the short answer is YES, adoption can be an option for your baby if you are in active addiction or in drug treatment.

Addiction Can be Difficult

We recognize that addiction can be a very difficult time. Often, someone struggling with addiction might feel isolated, having upset friends or family who cannot relate to the situation. If that is the case, facing pregnancy alone during addiction is even more difficult. Open Arms Adoption can help.
If you are interested in getting into a treatment program, we can help with that as well. We can work to find you safe housing and help you get back on your feet. We have relationships with many methadone and suboxone programs and residential treatment programs. We would be happy to make a connection to help you get what you need.

We are Here to Help

You might wonder if we will judge you. We won’t. Many women actually consider working with us to plan a voluntary adoption for their baby, because they fear or know that their baby will be placed into foster care. We do ask that you are honest with your Adoption Counselor from the very beginning though, so that she can help you with whatever you may need. It’s OK to be fully honest as most of our adoptive families are open to adopting children who have been exposed to drugs or alcohol in utero. If you choose to work with Open Arms Adoption, there will be no judgement, only support.

View Families Ready to Adopt a Baby

Considering Adoption

If you are considering adoption for your baby while struggling with addiction, you might wonder what that looks like. Choosing adoption while in active addiction, you would still have the same process available to you just like all of our other expectant parents. If you reach out to Open Arms Adoption and want to learn more about adoption, the first step of the process would be meeting with an Adoption Counselor. A counselor can meet you however you like- in person, talk by phone, facetime, text or email—the choice is yours, and we understand the need for privacy, or if you might not be ready to meet someone in person. We will follow your lead. If and when you decide that you’d like to meet with a counselor in person- we will be available to you. We will also let you decide how often you would like to meet. Some women prefer to meet more frequently, and others just want to establish a connection with an adoption agency like Open Arms and then not meet again you go to the hospital to deliver; either is fine with us. While in contact with your counselor, you will learn more about adoption and what adoption looks like—be it Open Adoption, Semi-Open Adoption or Confidential Adoption. The type of adoption you choose is up to you. Your Counselor will continue to explore other options with you, if you have supports in your life that can help you parent your new baby, your Counselor can help you consider those as well. You will never be pressured in any way if you work with Open Arms. You are in charge.

Why Adoption Can be a Good Option for your baby if You Are Using

You might wonder, “Why should I consider adoption if I am in active addiction? Why is this a good option for me?” There are several reasons why adoption might be a good option if you are currently using. First, if you are not currently living in a safe place to take care of a baby, you might be worried about bringing a new baby home. If you are not living a life that would allow you to take care of a new baby 24/7, adoption might be an option for you.
Another reason why adoption might be a good option if you are struggling with addiction, is because it can be an alternative to state foster care. If you are concerned about your local state foster care agency or social services taking your baby into custody, and the baby going into foster care, you have another option. You can choose voluntary adoption, where YOU can choose the Adoptive Family to raise your baby. If you choose voluntary adoption, your baby will go to the Adoptive Family of YOUR choice, forever. The child will NOT move around to different Foster Families if you choose Voluntary Adoption.
Last, with Voluntary Adoption, you can maintain a relationship with your child and his or her family. That means, you can get together with them 2 or 3 times a year, receive regular updates and photos from the Adoptive Family, and have your child know that you are their Birth Mom, for the years to come. With Adoption, you are in charge of your plan. If your child goes into the foster care system, unfortunately, you will not have these opportunities and you will have no say in the Foster Families that your child lives with.

You Can Reach us Anytime

If you are considering adoption for your baby, but you are not quite ready to make the call yet, that is completely fine. You can call us at any point in your pregnancy—or even after you have given birth. The choice is yours, and we at Open Arms Adoption understand what a big step it is to give us a call, and we are 100% behind you. We can assure you, that if you decide to call us, you will feel completely supported and taken care of by Open Arms for the months and years to come, no matter what your situation may be. Call us anytime at 1-888-OPENARMS or email us at info@openarmsadoption.net.