A sharp rise in alcohol and drug use among pregnant women living on Sri Lanka’s coastal belt has sparked serious concern, warns Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa, Opposition Leader of the Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council, and a specialist in community health.
Dr. Sanjeewa said the troubling trend is most evident in areas such as Dehiwala, Mount Lavinia, Ratmalana, Moratuwa, and Egoda Uyana, where women are not only using substances but also becoming involved in the drug trade itself.
“This is a growing public health crisis that the health sector alone cannot address,” he said, urging urgent intervention from the Ministry of Public Security, social services, and other state agencies.
Dr. Sanjeewa said that many of these women avoid registering with local health officials and skip vital prenatal check-ups. Alarmingly, they often refuse hospital deliveries and postnatal vaccinations for their infants, placing both mother and child at significant risk.
He also highlighted the link between substance abuse and domestic violence, noting that many of the women are trapped in abusive relationships with partners involved in drug trafficking.Dr. Sanjeewa calls for targeted rehabilitation and support programmes, warning that failure to act now could lead to long-term consequences for entire communities.
By Sujeewa Thatsara