Alien and Sedition Act of 1798 free essay sample

Although this is partially true as there have been many improvements to homeland security, the fight began years ago with multiple acts being passed that, unbeknownst at the time, were in reality related to securing our homeland. In 1798 Congress passed a series of four laws that aimed to control the activities of foreigners in the United States at the time of the impending French Revolutionary War. The four laws, which were collectively called the Alien and Sedition Acts, included the: Naturalization Act, Alien Act, Alien Enemies Act and Sedition Act. The Naturalization Act focused on making a longer period of time of residency for someone seeking citizenship to the United States. This meant that instead of an alien being in the country four just a couple years before being allowed to apply for citizenship the new residency period would require anywhere from 5 to 14 years. The law was aimed at Irish and French immigrants. The Alien Act made it possible for any aliens deemed dangerous during peaceful times in the United States to be expelled. This made it easier for government to remove someone they thought could be dangerous but it only applied to peaceful times not war times which is where the Alien Enemies Act came in. The act made it possible for the not only the expulsion but the imprisonment of aliens who were deemed dangerous during wartime. These people would be considered terrorists today and these acts were the first step in combatting any attack whether it is during peaceful times or war times. Although these three acts were never enforced they did prompt numerous Frenchmen to return home thus proving the dangers that were present in our country before these acts were instated. The Alien Act was very vague in that it did not say that any foreign nationals had to do anything illegal. The government did not have to prove they were a threat to national security to be subject to deportation. The Sedition Act of 1798 was the only act of the four laws passed to be enforced. This act made it illegal for an individual to criticize the government in speech or print. The penalty for such acts was a fine or possible imprisonment. It was also vague in that it was aimed toward foreign nationals but included anyone from advocating for a cause of a hostile nation. It also made it a crime to oppose any measure of the government of the United States. It was said this act was to prevent riots, uprisings or unlawful assemblies. The act even made it illegal to say anything bad against the act itself or call for its repeal. Although these acts were controversial and a threat to freedom of speech the reason for the acts being passed were to protect national security. Many other acts were passed in the following years to combat terrorism. The Force Act and the Ku Klux Act were â€Å"the earliest examples of legislation in the United States to deal specifically with domestic terrorist groups† (Fagin, 2005). The acts gave the government the authority to use federal troops to enforce federal laws. It dealt with mainly the southern states and their fourteenth and fifteenth amendment rights. The fourteenth and fifteenth amendments are considered the reconstruction amendments because they were important in implementing the reconstruction of the South after the Civil War. The amendments dealt with the rights of the former slaves. The fourteenth amendment secured rights for former slaves and provided a broad definition of national citizenship. The fifteenth amendment granted voting regardless of â€Å"race, color, or previous condition of servitude, but excluded the right for women to vote. These acts were aimed specifically at defeating a particular domestic terrorist group of citizens known as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). The KKK was known to terrorize any person of color or anyone known to hang out or associate with anyone of color simply because of their race. This act allowed federal troops to combat the KKK in their terrorizing of particular races but was short lived and deemed unconstitutional. It did help set the stage for future acts combatting domestic terrorism. The Espionage Act of 1918 and the Sedition Act of 1919 provided broad powers to the government ensuring national security relating to World War I. Before and during World War I there were believed to be enemy agents residing in the United States. The Espionage Act was passed to combat anti-war activities and attacks by foreign enemy agents. It also was aimed at â€Å"suppressing anti-war rhetoric, censoring criticism of the government’s war effort and prohibiting activities that would obstruct the war effort or aid the enemy† (Fagin, 2005). It made it a crime to interfere with operations or success of military forces. Promoting the success of our enemies, causing or attempting to cause an insubordination, disloyalty, mutiny, or refusal of duty in the military was deemed a felony. The Sedition Act of 1918 prohibited any anti-war effort or aid to the enemy. It even prohibited anyone from displaying the flag of an enemy nation. It also gave the local postmaster the authority to refuse to deliver any mail that was though to violate the act. Jumping ahead many years to 1995 The Omnibus Counterterrorism Act was created. This act allowed for prosecution on a federal level of any act that was terrorist related. It also changed the immigration law. It allowed the deportation of aliens not only accused but suspected of terrorism. This was a short-lived act that was replaced the very next year in 1996 by the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. This act had many provisions including provisions previously used in the Omnibus Counterterrorism Act. In general terms it made it easier for agencies to prosecute anyone related to acts of terror including individuals who raised funds for terrorist acts. It enacted regulations requiring chemical taggants be added to other types of explosives so police can trace bomb to the criminals who made them which makes it easier to catch and prosecute the people responsible. The act increased penalties for terrorist crimes which can help deter a terrorist from carrying out an attack. This act had many more provisions included that were not allowed to be law until the attacks on September 11, 2001. After the attacks on 9/11 the USA Patriot Act was passed on October 11, 2001. This act had been months in the making but was pushed through quickly as it was deemed needed because of the attacks that had occurred. This act closed the holes that were left open by the Anti-Terrorism and Death Penalty Act allowing for much more lenient investigation into terrorists. It provided law enforcement with the proper tools to gather intelligence but came with much criticism. Many American thought it was a violation of their constitutional right of privacy and did not like the fact that the government has so much lenience when it comes to wiretapping or listening to phone calls. It might seem like a violation but it is done to protect us from acts of terror. If an attack is being planned and the agencies did not have the rights to listen we would be looking at another 9/11 incident but since they are able to listen and gather this information it will be easier to prevent such attack. Another controversial part of the Patriot Act is the â€Å"sneak and peak† provision. This provision authorizes enforcement agents to conduct a search without informing the suspect of the search. Obviously this means there has to be a search warrant and a plausible reason for the search but it allows them to search without the knowledge of the suspect which is not unconstitutional. The Patriot Act has been extremely successful at discovering terrorist plots thanks to the new provisions. Since 9/11 six terrorist cells have been broken up in Buffalo, Detroit, Seattle, Portland, Tampa, and North Carolina. †(Fagin, 2005) Would Americans rather these plots have been carried out or deal with a little invasion of privacy? When looking at the amazing success of the act it is clear that we must give a little to gain a lot. Many of these acts throughout history are great example of using law to promote homeland security. Some are controversial and have come under much criticism an d some were replaced with new laws to combat these criticisms.  One thing all these laws have in common is the underlying attempt to combat terrorism and keep Americans safe.

The Worst Things Freelance Writers Are Doing to Lose Business

Ahh, you searched on Google for freelance writer and after reading hours upon hours of blog posts, you decide this is the freelance service for you. Im so happy you decided to become a freelance writer, but I dont want you to get the false impression that its easy to land clients or make a ton of money. In truth, like any other new business venture, it takes time and investment to see any success. But, for many of us ahem, *raises hand we try the DIY approach to freelance writing. This is exactly what I did and I made terrible mistakes that costed me clients and cash. From pitching mistakes to writing mistakes, Ive done them all. I had to learn the hard way on how to succeed as a freelance writer and you know what? I dont want you to go through the same things as I did. So, to help you, Ive rounded up common freelance writer mistakes that you might be doing right now! Are you guilty of these freelance writer mistakes? The sooner you identify these critical errors in your business, the sooner you can fix them. Are You Doing These Things to Hurt Your Business? 1. You Dont Believe This is Your Business I get it Its hard to feel confident in your role as an online writer when youre brand new to the scene. However, freelance writing isnt a hobby. This is your new business, so act like it is. Youre the one responsible for finding writing jobs, negotiating with prospects, networking and more. As an online writer, you have to manage your projects and send invoices and all of that signals this is a legit business! Also, know that it might take time to hone your writing skills and get to the point that you have the confidence to make cold pitches or take on bigger clients. 2. Youre Trying to Be an Expert at Everything Just because you are a great writer doesnt mean youre a good fit for every type of company out there. Dont apply for writing jobs saying that you can write about anything with enough research. This can open the doors to anxiety when writing for clients and imposter syndrome (you know, other people thinking you are the expert when you really arent). Also, dont tell potential clients that you have always had an interest in X topic and then provide writing samples of writing in a different niche topic. This can confuse potential clients and hinder landing that job. Business owners are simple if you say youre a health writer they expect you to provide health related writing samples! But, sometimes faking it until you make it does have its place. When I first started out as a freelance writer I pitched to anything and everything that I was remotely interested in. A newspaper in the automotive industry responded to my pitch and they ended up hiring me. While I didnt know much about oil prices or race car drivers, I was confident that I could research and find credible sources to write my articles. 3. You Appear as the Desperate Freelance Writer Even though you might actually be desperate for writing clients, you cannot ooze that persona when pitching or replying to job ads. If a potential client wants you to do unpaid test articles or wants a lower rate, dont give in because you just want any money. This move can earn you a few dollars now, but it ultimately hurts your career progress. Plus, it wont push you ahead as a freelance writer. The only time this would be acceptable is if you havent landed your first client and all youre doing is guest blogging or writing samples. If that first gig is a lower paying gig than what you determined to be your rates, I say take it! Thats what I did and then whenever I applied to new online jobs or companies contacted me, I upped my rate. Not every prospect agreed to my rate, but once one did, the next time I pitched I pitched a higher rate. I did this until I was comfortable at what Im earning per 500 words. But, drop that lower paying client once you land a better client or negotiate a better rate with them. You dont want to spend most of your precious time with a lower paying client. Instead, spend the bulk of your time pitching to better freelance gigs. 4. Your Grammar Stinks Too many typos, run-on sentences, and fragments can irritate editors and clients alike. I try to read Strunks The Elements of Style yearly as a refresher, and I have a copy of the AP Stylebook for quick reference for my formal projects. For my blogging clients, using Grammarly is sufficient to catch grammar errors. We are all human and prone to mistakes, especially when we are sleep deprived or pregnant/postpartum. Dont expect yourself to be perfect, but also equip yourself with the right tools to avoid common errors. 5. You Miss Deadlines Clients prefer a reliable writer over a perfect one. Remember that when you start landing clients and trying to manage your workload. Editors can fix minor issues with your copy quickly, but they cant edit an article that isnt in their hands. If you struggle with deadlines, try breaking down your assignment into smaller sections and assign yourself a deadline two to three days before it is actually due. This is what I do and it ensures that I always exceed my deadlines, wowing clients to hire me for more projects! 6. You Bug Your Client Too Much Clarifying an assignment is one thing, but continually asking your client questions or for checks will get to them quickly. This was one of the biggest mistakes I did when I landed freelance writing jobs I wasnt too sure about. But I had to remember that many clients are busy, which is why they hired me! If you can prove that you are a stress-relieving, essential part of their business, you will be their go-to writer for everything. Plus, they look to us freelance writers professional writers as the expert here. WE ARE THE EXPERTS in writing and the business side of writing. So, they should look to us with the on-boarding process or delivering the product. 7. You Dont Follow Instructions Some freelance writing assignments will come with specific guidelines for SEO or word count. For these clients, these arent just recommendations. Dont think if your client asked for 500 words that they will be just as happy with 900. There have been times I was assigned a big topic, like Plan Out Your School Year Month by Monthwith a 500-word maximum. So basically, with an intro, conclusion, and 12points, each section would have to be 35 words. I let them know it would be hard to give concrete advice in a piece with a limited word count. This then helped them see that it would be better to break up the piece by seasons. Still not the length I desire but more realistic. For my other clients, the more words the better. Since my niche is digital marketing, for my clients to start ranking in Google, they know that long-form content is king. This is the type of content that Google finds highly valuable and rank on page one. So blog posts longer than 2,200 words is only a guideline for my clients. However, for new clients I always make sure to let them know that I went over the limit and to let me know if they want me to pare it down (as much as I possibly can!). For example, my latest assignment was a 3,500 word article and I turned in 4,025 words. In the whole scheme of things, the extra 525 words isnt anything to note. 8. You Make Repeated Mistakes Ive been picking up more big brand clients and these brands come with huge editorial guides, conference calls for pitching topics and pages upon pages of different buying personas. With the addition of newer brand clients, I make mistakes like when I have to switch between different AP preferences. One client likes all numbers in numeral form, while others adhere to writing out anything less than 10. Another client likes percent written out and another prefers the symbol for snappier writing and my Canadian client spells out percent like this per cent. Dont even get me started on the Oxford comma. It can be hard to keep track of all of these preferences or when an editor points out a mistake. What I have to do now is fill out the client profile in my Productivity Planner for Freelance Writers for each client and quickly bullet point important style notes as well as an editors previous notes. This then allows me to review the clients note quickly without having to dig up old emails or their 10-page style guide. 9. You Get Defensive About Your Freelance Writing Work When you receive critique from a blog post you submitted or are asked for edits, try not to take it personal. Youre not your writing. Some edits might need to be done due to writer errors and others might be requested due to preference. But, make sure to tell your clients during the negotiations of how many revisions you do for each project. For me I do no more than two. And if a client asks for two revisions, Ill most likely not work with them again. I dont have the time to try to fit my writing for that brand and its better for both parties to part ways so that they can find a writer for them. This has only happened two times in the five years of being a freelance writer! 10. You Offer Everything and the Sun Freelance writers have somehow become the go-to for everything in the realm of content marketing. Some clients want their writers to do SEO research, interviews, edit, fact-check, create social media prompts, provide images, and promote the content. If you can get the article featured on a big site too, Great, they say. Your job as a writer is to write. You are not a data scientist, social media manager, or PR rep. If your client wants you to do more than is typically expected in the realm of writing, then they need to pay you for the extra time required. I know as a new writer, you want that gig and you will take it, but be careful. As I mentioned previously, dont let that one gig consume most of your hours. You didnt sign up to be a freelance writer to be tied down to one job with a boss waiting for your work. Personally, I never take gigs that require more than writing or replying to comments on my blog posts. If they want me to edit other peoples work, then they can hire me as an editor too. 11. Your Rates Are Too Low Low rates can land you a few clients quickly, but they put you in a bad spot. With low rates, you attract lower quality clients (usually the needy or degrading ones). You will have to focus on quantity of work rather than quality, which wont allow you to scale your business. Its okay to start out with low-paying clients. The thing to remember is to have a plan to move up, dont stay at $.05/word! To be a successful freelance writer that makes a living out of this, you need to charge your worth. Are You Making One of These Mistakes? Its okay if you are making one of these mistakes. Now that you know, you can change and move on! Share in the comments any other mistakes you feel freelance writers are making that might be hurting their business! I want to help everyone out that not make the mistakes I did as a new freelance writer! Please pin me!

Significant Figures Example Chemistry Problem

Significant Figures Example Chemistry Problem Here are three examples determining significant figures. When asked to find significant figures, remember and follow these simple rules: Any nonzero digit is significant.A zero between two nonzero digits is always significant.Trailing zeros are significant if they are at the end of a number and to the right of the decimal point.Leading zeros to the left of the first nonzero digit are not significant. For example, placeholder zeros in the number 0.005 are not significant (only the 5 is significant).If a number ends with a zero, but it is not to the right of a decimal point, it may or may not be significant. Generally, its safest to assume it is not significant. If you take a measurement where the final zero is significant, be sure to include the decimal point to make yourself clear. Significant Figure Example Problem Three students weigh an item using different scales. These are the values they report: a. 20.03 gb. 20.0 gc. 0.2003 kg How many significant figures should be assumed in each measurement? Solution a. 4.b. 3. The zero after the decimal point is significant because it indicates that the item was weighed to the nearest 0.1 g.c. 4. The zeros at the left are not significant. They are only present because the mass was written in kilograms rather than in grams. The values 20.03 g and 0.02003 kg represent the same quantities. Answer In addition to the solution presented above, be advised you can get the correct answers very quickly by expressing the masses in scientific (exponential) notation: 20.03 g 2.003 x 101 g (4 significant figures)20.0 g 2.00 x 101 g (3 significant figures)0.2003 kg 2.003 x 10-1 kg (4 significant figures)

Positions, Please

Positions, Please Positions, Please Positions, Please By Sharon Getting the right position is not just about making a good career move or finding your spot on the stage. There are several words that refer to the different positions in which you can lie. Some of these are not just about the body, but about the attitude. Here are some examples. In the 16th century, prone meant bending forward and downward. By the 18th century, it had taken on its modern meaning of lying flat. However, using prone implies that the front of the body is resting on the surface which supports it. In other words, youre lying on your front. In contrast, supine implies that youre lying on your back, a meaning it has had since the 15th century. Supine also means mentally or morally inert, according to the Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. Prostrate also means lying down, but it has the additional sense of collapse, defeat and submission. Recumbent means lying down, often in a sleeping position and if you are reclining, though you may be lying down, you may also be leaning backwards, such as when youre propped up on a couple of pillows. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:What Is Irony? (With Examples)Latin Words and Expressions: All You Need to KnowSit vs. Set

Compair and contrast between the hawk and the Lady in red Essay

Compair and contrast between the hawk and the Lady in red - Essay Example This paper discusses the differences and similarities between the two stories with respect to the major characters. Stressed, lonely, and living in regret, the Lady in Red character re-lives memories of what life used to be when he had money. From trips to Europe, having the best car, friends, and house, but all these seem to have faded and reduced him to a street beggar. The character portrays life on the fast lane and life on the street. The astounding factor in this story is that life is unpredictable, as the character puts it, â€Å"today, you could own the best car, and tomorrow you could be begging on the streets† (LeMieu45). He used to have many friends who would join in the thanksgiving celebration and drink the finest wine. Additionally, loving family members would show up on different occasions and have a good laugh. However, life turned against the professional sports writer, and salesman who had excellent skills in business. All that he was left with was his old car, and his dog, Willow, who never left his side. From begging on the streets and being chased from stores he used t o shop, the character seems to have lost hope and the zeal to live again. However, he finds closure when he packs his car in the usual sanctuary where many homeless people stay. This gives him the motivation that he is not the only one in the universe going through pain and suffering. Similarly, the Hawk character goes through the same tribulations despite having a prosperous past. The Hawk character sleeps in a tent inside a community football pitch. He used to be a reputed football player back in the day, and received recognition from community members. However, after going into business, things failed to work in his favor, and he ended up homeless. Luckily, people of the community were compassionate and let him stay in the field as long as he would not interfere with the daily activities taking place. He once had a caring heart, but all

Economy of Switzerland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economy of Switzerland - Essay Example The country's political environment too is characterized by a high degree of decentralization with adequate amount of autonomy and authority delegated to the 26 cantons (Datamonitor, 2007). Macroeconomic indicators happen to be good measure of the economic development of a country as these measures keep track of the life-style of the citizens and the problems faced by them while trying to arrange for the living. Sound macroeconomic indicators help in strengthening the base for a lasting growth of a nation. Some of the macroeconomic indicators over the last couple of years can be summarized for the country as follows; Gross Domestic Product (GDP) happens to be the key driver of macroeconomic conditions in a country. It is calculated as1 'the total market value of all final goods and services produced in a country in a given year, equal to total consumer, investment and government spending, plus the value of exports, minus the value of imports'. Switzerland has seen consistent growth in its GDP over the years, but it appears that is not good enough for it to maintain its leading position amongst similarly placed nations. OECD (2007) in its survey, while lauding the high levels of GDP per capita for Switzerland, also expresses concern over the continuous erosion of Switzerland's relative position over the past decade. The report points out that while proper utilization of labor remains high, the productivity levels has dropped down in comparison to other developed economies like Germany, France, Denmark etc. The growth in real GDP for Switzerland over the period of 2001-2006 is as indicated in tabl e-1 Table 1: Switzerland real GDP (Swiss francs billion), 2001-2006 Table-2: GDP per capita growth in Switzerland compared to major Eurozone countries, 2001-2006 and forecast 2007-11 Year GDP (Swiss francs billion) Growth (%) Country CAGR 2001-2006 CAGR 2007-2011 2001 423 1.1 Germany 0.9 1.0 2002 425 0.4 France 1.4 1.5 2003 424 -0.2 Italy 0.6 0.9 2004 434 2.4 Spain 2.9 4.1 2005 444 2.2 Switzerland 1.0 1.4 2006 457 3.0 Source: Datamonitor, U.S Census Bureau International Database, National Statistical Organization- Switzerland CAGR 1.55% Source: Datamonitor, National Statistical Organization- Switzerland Even during the first two quarters of 2007 the GDP growth remained quite encouraging reaching 0.7% in each period, quarter on quarter (OECD, 2007). What is driving the growth is the acceleration in private consumption with an increase in the availability of more job opportunities and labour incomes. In fact in today's market driven economy what makes a big difference in the economic growth is the purchasing power of the workforce which sets a chain reaction in the form of more purchases, more production, and more contribution to the government in the form of taxes, more investments by the industry and expansion of the overall industrial outlook of the nation. Therefore, Switzerland seems to be preparing adequate ground for inviting more investments which obviously helps the government in shelling out more funds for infrastructure and social welfare sectors. For the year 2007 the GDP growth has been estimated around 2.5%, somewhat lower as compared to the 2006 figures but, in view of the global slowdown in economies this percentage appears good enough. The improvement in economic indicators is also on account of

Uses and abuse of drugs Essay Example for Free

Uses and abuse of drugs Essay Many people do not understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. Substance abuse is a growing problem that not only affects the person who is abusing alcohol or drugs but also affects the lives of those who are close to the abuser. Substance abuse is the abuse of any substance. A drug is a substance that modifies one or more of the body functions when it is consumed. It is often mistakenly assumed that drug abusers lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop using drugs simply by choosing to change their behavior. In reality, drug addiction is a disease and quitting takes a lot more than Just changing your behavior. Drug Abuse is generally defined as the use of a drug with such frequency that the user has a physical or mental harm or it impairs social abilities. The substances that are discussed in this report are called psychoactive drugs; those drugs that Influence or alter the workings of the mind, affect moods, emotions, feelings, and thinking processes. Substances drugs affect the brain, heart, liver, lungs and also the people around you. When drugs get into the bloodstream they are carried to all parts of the body and some reach the brain. In fact, drugs change the brain in ways that foster compulsive drug abuse, quitting is more difficult than it appears. The quicker the drug reaches the brain, the more intense the effects. The quickest way to get a drug into the brain, and also the most dangerous way of using any drug is to injecting into the vein. Injecting into the vein Is almost as quick as smoking a drug, followed by sniffing or snorting and then by mouth. Eating or drinking a drug Is the slowest route, because the drug has to pass through the stomach first. Drugs are generally categorized into two groups, stimulants and depressants. Stimulants are drugs that peed up signals through the nervous system. They produce alertness, arousal and excitability. They also Inhibit fatigue and sleep. Everything from over-the-counter pain medication, prescriptions drugs such as,, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, and even coffee can abused In one way or another. The two man substances being abused In our nation are nicotine and alcohol. How does nicotine addiction work? Basically, when you smoke your first cigarettes, when you arent addicted yet, you get a head-rush which Is caused by the nicotine. In your brain there are nicotine receptors which arent used to the nicotine In a cigarette. Over time, the nicotine receptors get used to the amount of nicotine so they can cope with the nicotine. So when this nicotine stops being given to the receptors (when you give up smoking) they panic and cause you to feel unhappy and angry. When you smoke, the nicotine receptors send out messages to other parts of the brain which release a drug called dopamine which makes you feel happy, satisfied, relaxed. When you try to quit, or when you fancy a cigarette your dopamine levels are going down and you start to feel unhappy, aggressive, unsatisfied. Most smokers dont know that they are addicted to nicotine until they try to stop smoking completely they Just think that they Like smoking. The answer to your question Is that you will have a moderate nicotine addiction, and quitting wont be that hard. The signs of a severe nicotine addiction are needing to smoke a cigarette every 2 hours, having one as soon as you wake In night). Nicotine increases the levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain, activating the pleasure pathways in the same way other addictive drugs do. After the effects (calmness, sense of well-being) disappear, the smoker craves more. Why is alcohol addictive? Basically because alcohol, like nicotine and heroin and other substances stimulates the reward response in your brain. You have a drink, the brain rewards itself with a surge of chemicals and hormones that it really likes, and therefore the more you stimulate it, the more it wants. Some people are more susceptible than others in that their reward responses are stronger which is why some people will get addicted to things more easily than other people will. If you add to that a troubled background of some sort, then when the brain offers its reward response though making that person feels calmer and happier or more in control, hey are more likely than someone who is pretty happy. Alcohol is made of ethanol, it is a depressant, your body becomes addictive to the depressant effects and you eventually need it to stop the shakes (delirium tremors) and the withdrawals of the depressant effects on the brain and body. For example, caffeine is a stimulant, and people become addicted to that and when having caffeine withdrawals one has headaches and other neurological effects. However, alcohol is a lot more dangerous because if you are a hardcore not only can you die from drinking, if you stop cold turkey you can have convulsions and die from withdrawals. The addictive substance is ethanol. When you are pregnant, it is important that you watch what you put into your body. Consumption of illegal drugs is not safe for the unborn baby or for the mother. Studies have shown that consumption of illegal drugs during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, low birth weight, premature labor, placental abruptest, fetal death, and even maternal death. If its suspected that woman whose pregnant is using drugs they will test the baby to see if its born addicted, yes it is possible to see if the baby is addicted even before he/she is born.