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Another Study Shows Connection between Abortion and Substance Abuse

Adds to growing research showing long-term negative psychological effects of abortion on women

By Hilary White

BRISBANE, Australia, December 4, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - An Australian research team has found a close connection between previous abortion, drug and alcohol abuse. The work is added to a growing body of scientific research showing the long-term negative psychological effects of abortion on women.

Young women who have abortions are more likely to drink heavily and abuse hard drugs, the study found. The study of 1,122 young women, born at the Mater hospital in the early 1980's, showed that about one third had an abortion. This one third was three times more likely to have abused methamphetamine, heroin or sniffed glue.

They were twice as likely to be binge drinkers or alcoholics, and 1.5 times more likely to suffer depression. 

Researcher Kaeleen Dingle, from the University of Queensland, commented, "This is a very interesting but also a very controversial finding and it still remains to be seen what exactly the connection is."

"It might be that women who have abortions are also more likely to live a riskier and more abusive lifestyle but there's also some evidence to suggest the procedure itself could put women on that path."

Meanwhile abortion promoters continue to deny the existence of Post Abortion Syndrome (PAS) or of any negative long-term consequences of abortion for women.

In a new book, "Abortion Counselling: A Clinician's Guide to Psychology, Legislation, Politics, and Competency", Rachel B. Needle, and Lenore E.A. Walker, wrote that while "counselling" is important for women, PAS is a "myth".

The authors emphasized, "Unintended child-bearing is destructive to the mental health of women and their families [and] women's mental health has become a political weapon in efforts to restrict legal access to abortion." 

Kaeleen Dingle said, "We don't want to in any way deter women who are seeking abortion, but it may be that, based on these findings, some women could do with more GP counselling and more thorough after-abortion care."

Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Abortion Leads to Substance Abuse for Significant Number of Women
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jan/06012307.html

"Evidence Doesn't Matter" in APA Abortion Advocacy
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/feb/060216A.html

Study: Substance Abuse 5x Higher after Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2000/mar/00032002.html

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