Prenatal Substance Abuse Research Paper

Effects of Prenatal Substance Abuse
Shiela Neumann
Mohave Community College

November 1, 2015
Submitted to
Christi Carey
Mohave Community College
Abstract
Prenatal substance abuse continues to be a problem in this country and exposes health and development risks for the developing fetus. Each year an estimated 400,000-440,000 infants (10-11% of all births) are affected by prenatal alcohol or illicit drug exposure (alcohol and drug). Almost all drugs are known to pass through the placenta and have some effect on the fetus. Prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol has the potential to cause a wide spectrum of physical, emotional, and developmental problems for these infants. Little is documented about the long-term outcome of
The reasons mothers use drugs is not the purpose of this report. This report will examine how prenatal use of drugs and alcohol effect these infants physically, emotionally, and developmentally in the long and short term.
If a mother’s drug use is sustained through her pregnancy her baby may have effects that continue after birth. The prenatal drug exposure effects are widely ranged depending on the drug, amount, and length of time used during pregnancy. These babies may be born premature or have low birth weights. The withdrawal symptoms range from fussiness to severe irritability, jitteriness, feeding, and bowel issues. Long-term developmental problems may be seen in babies who are born with growth failure or various organ problems that will last throughout their lives (Lee, 2013).
Fackelman, (1989) reports two studies of the effects cocaine/marijuana use by pregnant women, have on their newborns, and whether the drugs cause neurological damage to the babies that may cause learning disabilities later in life and the effects these drugs have on birth
Researchers found that babies placed in alternative care situations at birth are at greater risk for delayed motor development. At six months old these babies, whose motor and neurological development were in the normal range, were significantly less likely to smile, reach, roll over, or sit up in comparison to ones left in the care of the birth mothers. The study also showed these babies weighed less and were shorter than ones left in the natural mother's care. Except in extreme drug abuse cases, it may be better to leave babies in the care of their natural mother (Wiley, 1989).
I do not know if I trust this particular report for accuracy due to the fact that it does not have qualitative or quantitative data. There is no clear reason these babies do not fare well in foster care arrangements. Wobie (1989) speculates it may be the change in environment or feeding schedule. The fact that the babies are placed in these care environments upon leaving the hospital I do not find those reasons likely. (Wiley, 1989). Do children 3 and 4 years old, who had been exposed to cocaine in utero, have problem-solving disabilities? A quantitive study was done to answer this