Drug Use During Pregnancy
Genevieve Murphy-Wix
EDPY 303
November 25, 2014
The Effects of Drug Use during Pregnancy
Smoking, drinking, and other recreational drug use during pregnancy is a major public health problem. Throughout this synthesis I will discuss how teratogens effect children before birth. I am going to hit key points about tobacco use and recreational drug use during pregnancy the most.
Tobacco and recreational drug use during pregnancy can cause antisocial behavior including conduct disorder and delinquency. The use of tobacco during pregnancy has adverse prenatal consequences and these consequences can extend far beyond the prenatal period (Wakschlag, 2002). Antisocial behavior is defined as a chronic violation of social norms and rules which can have both violent and nonviolent manifestations. This antisocial behavior can end up being categorized as a mental disorder. Exposure during pregnancy may play a casual role in the onset of severe antisocial behavior via teratological effects on the fetus (Wakschlag, 2002). A teratogen is the name for any substance that crosses the placenta to harm the fetus. Exposure to tobacco constituents during fetal development and via environmental tobacco smoke exposure is known as the most hazardous of a child’s environmental exposure (DiFranza, 2004). Children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the home increases the incidence of middle ear disease, asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia; just to name a few. Hospitalization for respiratory illness is far more likely for children of smokers than those who are not.
The use of cocaine during pregnancy is linked to miscarriage, growth retardation, and learning and behavior problems (Belsky, pg 51). Cocaine exposed infants were about a week younger, measured shorter, weighed less, and had a head circumference smaller than nonexposed infants. Central and autonomic nervous system symptoms, as well as infection, were more frequent (but not always) with infants that were exposed to
EDPY 303
November 25, 2014
The Effects of Drug Use during Pregnancy
Smoking, drinking, and other recreational drug use during pregnancy is a major public health problem. Throughout this synthesis I will discuss how teratogens effect children before birth. I am going to hit key points about tobacco use and recreational drug use during pregnancy the most.
Tobacco and recreational drug use during pregnancy can cause antisocial behavior including conduct disorder and delinquency. The use of tobacco during pregnancy has adverse prenatal consequences and these consequences can extend far beyond the prenatal period (Wakschlag, 2002). Antisocial behavior is defined as a chronic violation of social norms and rules which can have both violent and nonviolent manifestations. This antisocial behavior can end up being categorized as a mental disorder. Exposure during pregnancy may play a casual role in the onset of severe antisocial behavior via teratological effects on the fetus (Wakschlag, 2002). A teratogen is the name for any substance that crosses the placenta to harm the fetus. Exposure to tobacco constituents during fetal development and via environmental tobacco smoke exposure is known as the most hazardous of a child’s environmental exposure (DiFranza, 2004). Children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the home increases the incidence of middle ear disease, asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia; just to name a few. Hospitalization for respiratory illness is far more likely for children of smokers than those who are not.
The use of cocaine during pregnancy is linked to miscarriage, growth retardation, and learning and behavior problems (Belsky, pg 51). Cocaine exposed infants were about a week younger, measured shorter, weighed less, and had a head circumference smaller than nonexposed infants. Central and autonomic nervous system symptoms, as well as infection, were more frequent (but not always) with infants that were exposed to
References: Frank, D., Augrustyn, M., Knight, W., Pell, T., Zuckerman, B. (2001). Growth, Development, and Behavior in Early Childhood Following Prenatal Cocaine Exposure. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 285 (12), 1613-1625. Wakschlag, L., Pickett, K., Cook, E., Benowitz, N., Leventhal, B. (2002). Maternal Smoking During Pregnancy And Severe Antisocial Behavior in Offspring: A Review. American Journal of Public Health. Volt. 92, No. 6, pp 966-974. DiFranza, J., Algine, A., Weitzman, M. (2004). Prenatal and Postnatal Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Children’s Health. PEDIATRICS. Vol. 113, pp. 1007-1015.