Drug Addicted Babies
Keelana Char
English 155
Ms. Mendiola
19 September 2012
Drug Addicted Babies The use of illicit drugs and abuse of alcohol exact a steep price from our society. Substance abuse is a factor in many serious ills such as crime. More upsetting, however, is the affects that it has on children born affected from their dependent mothers. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 60 percent of women of childbearing age consume alcoholic beverages despite the fact that alcohol consumption during pregnancy is implicated in a wide range of birth defects and developmental disabilities, including mental retardation, physical abnormalities, and visual and auditory impairments. (Nevitt, 1996) Since most drug users are in the child bearing years, the cycle continues and drug compromised adults face the crucial job of child-rearing, while at the same time dealing with the consequences and the side effects of hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, physical aggression, impulsive behavior, memory loss and depression. Drug using parents are routinely diagnosed as having amphetamine or cocaine induced delusional disorders, as being gravely disabled, or unable to provide self and family with food and clothing. They are a danger to themselves and others, and they often have 4 to 6 children. (Behrman, 1991) Drug addicted parents breed drug addicted babies who grow up severely handicapped, physically and emotionally. They later become drug addicted juveniles who commit serious violent crimes, and the influence of drugs reduces inhibitions, undermines judgment, clouds perceptions, and eliminates conscience. The drug epidemic that swept this country during the 1980’s has had a devastating effect on families, and particularly on the children who have been the silent victims of prenatal exposure to drugs. The number of children born each year exposed to drugs and/or alcohol is estimated to be between 550,000 and 750,000. In addition to the biological risk that prenatal alcohol or drug
English 155
Ms. Mendiola
19 September 2012
Drug Addicted Babies The use of illicit drugs and abuse of alcohol exact a steep price from our society. Substance abuse is a factor in many serious ills such as crime. More upsetting, however, is the affects that it has on children born affected from their dependent mothers. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 60 percent of women of childbearing age consume alcoholic beverages despite the fact that alcohol consumption during pregnancy is implicated in a wide range of birth defects and developmental disabilities, including mental retardation, physical abnormalities, and visual and auditory impairments. (Nevitt, 1996) Since most drug users are in the child bearing years, the cycle continues and drug compromised adults face the crucial job of child-rearing, while at the same time dealing with the consequences and the side effects of hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, physical aggression, impulsive behavior, memory loss and depression. Drug using parents are routinely diagnosed as having amphetamine or cocaine induced delusional disorders, as being gravely disabled, or unable to provide self and family with food and clothing. They are a danger to themselves and others, and they often have 4 to 6 children. (Behrman, 1991) Drug addicted parents breed drug addicted babies who grow up severely handicapped, physically and emotionally. They later become drug addicted juveniles who commit serious violent crimes, and the influence of drugs reduces inhibitions, undermines judgment, clouds perceptions, and eliminates conscience. The drug epidemic that swept this country during the 1980’s has had a devastating effect on families, and particularly on the children who have been the silent victims of prenatal exposure to drugs. The number of children born each year exposed to drugs and/or alcohol is estimated to be between 550,000 and 750,000. In addition to the biological risk that prenatal alcohol or drug