A new study links abortion and substance abuse. That’s the conclusion of a study performed by researchers at the University of Manitoba that found that women who have had an abortion are almost four times as likely to have substance abuse issues. The study also found a link between abortion and mental illness.
Using data from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Drug Abuse, researchers found that abortion was associated with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance abuse and suicide attempts.
“This was the first study to examine associations between abortion and several mental disorders,” says Dr. Jitender Sareen, psychiatry.
He adds: “We found a higher likelihood of lifetime mood disorder in women who had experienced an abortion compared with those who had never had an abortion. A woman with a mood disorder might be more inclined to have an abortion, while conversely, an unplanned pregnancy and abortion could precipitate a mood disorder.”
Researchers acknowledge that as of yet they’re unsure if abortion leads to mental illness and substance abuse or if women who’ve suffered from mental illness and substance abuse are simply more likely to obtain an abortion. But they’ve urged mental health professionals to screen for the linkage.
The problem facing such research is that the health care industry seems dead set against promulgating anything that could be seen as damaging to abortion businesses. Big Abortion is dead set against ultrasounds, never mind studies linking substance abuse and mood disorders with abortion.
May 18, 2010 at 5:31 am
I worry that the answer might be, "There you go! Women with these kind of issues shouldn't be having babies. Good thing they aborted them."
May 18, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Yes. I worry about the same thing, MacBeth. The pro-aborts want you to believe that children are better off being aborted than being poor and unwanted. Mentally ill mothers with substance abuse problems is just fuel for the fire, really.
Of course, I tend to believe that it's the other way around.
May 18, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Slightly curious about how long after the abortions the women were studied.
Many women suffer from Post Partem Depression (PPD) due (they think) from the extreme hormone drop after pregnancy. This can be severe enough to lead some otherwise mentally-healthy women to attempt suicide, or even to try to kill their own children, etc.
So what happens when you take all those "happy hormones" of pregnancy and cut them off (with the baby) well before term? Adding to all of this the disconnection from God. Maybe it's a combination of things in many cases. Either way. Not good.
May 19, 2010 at 12:34 am
"Researchers acknowledge that as of yet they're unsure if abortion leads to mental illness and substance abuse or if women who've suffered from mental illness and substance abuse are simply more likely to obtain an abortion. But they've urged mental health professionals to screen for the linkage."
I give you credit for including this statement. That way, we can go on investigating and verifying. If the link exists, then so be it.
Please note that I am not dismissing serious affects of abortion, nor am I calling abortion a blessing. On the contrary, I affirm that it is a tragedy and a scandal. I am simply encouraging further study, much like you seem to do.
May 19, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Women, and especially girls, who have been abused are more likely to have psychological problems, and engage in self-destructive behaviors such as drug and alcohol abuse. Not surprisingly, these drugs lower inhibitions and result in lack of judgment. Combined with a lack of good parenting and a lack of self-worth – voila – pregnancy and abortion. And no, I have no list of studies to back me up – only 16 years of mother-baby nursing. 16 years of hearing these sad stories over and over again.
May 20, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Well, Brian, I've got to say that only some men (or die-hard liberals) would need further research if they can't connect the cause-effect.
As a woman with 4 babies, I can tell you that if I killed any of them in utero or out for any reason, I'd want to drown my guilt and pain in alcohol or drugs, and the haunting memories would likely make me mentally struggle. I'd have a mentally hard time if any died a natural death before me, too. But at least I would have the peace of knowing I wasn't complicit, so I might be able to not self-destruct.
It isn't that hard to connect the dots. Women tend by nature to love the child. Abortion is a dismal failure of love on a lot of levels.
Whatever you need the research for, it isn't really necessary to point out this "no, duh." Kim
May 21, 2010 at 2:36 am
I appreciate the comment, Anonymous. I understand your attachment to your children. Your post does make sense.