Melinda Johnson's life used to look very different.

Two years ago, she was charged with chemical endangerment, among other drug-related offenses, for using methamphetamine while she was pregnant. Johnson, then 42, said that the pregnancy was unplanned and that she was grappling with a substance use disorder.

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People misunderstand addiction and recovery, she said. “It’s just not something that happens at the snap of the finger. There’s no switch to shut that off.”

Many women have found themselves in the same position. Over a two-year period, prosecutors across 16 states charged more than 400 people with pregnancy-related crimes, with most of the charges originating in states with near or total abortion bans, according to

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