What are the effects of drugs in pregnancy?
Illicit Drugs Illicit drug use during pregnancy may cause miscarriage, preterm labor, birth defects, stillbirth, withdrawal symptoms in the baby after birth, a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), poor fetal growth rate, and cognitive and behavioral problems.
How does drug abuse affect fetal development?
Studies show that various drugs may result in miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and a variety of behavioral and cognitive problems in the child. A baby can also be born dependent on the drug if the mother uses it regularly—a condition called neonatal abstinence syndrome.
How common is substance abuse during pregnancy?
Estimates suggest that about 5 percent of pregnant women use one or more addictive substances. Regular use of some drugs can cause neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), in which the baby goes through withdrawal upon birth.
Which characteristic is associated with drug abuse?
Generally, those who use drugs or alcohol are characterized by having high Neuroticism, high Openness to Experience, low Agreeableness, and low Conscientiousness. However, there are individual personality differences between the drugs that are used.
Will my baby be drug tested at birth?
Newborn drug testing is recommended in infants born to mothers with high-risk behaviors (eg, history of drug use/abuse, prostitution, nicotine use), minimal or no prenatal care, or unexplained obstetric events (eg, placental abruption, premature labor).
Do hospitals automatically drug test newborns?
Because of the opiate epidemic, many hospitals are routinely drug testing newborns. Fifteen states, including Massachusetts, have laws requiring health care workers to report to authorities if they suspect a woman is abusing drugs during pregnancy.
What are the characteristics of drug abusers?
A drug abuser increases his/her drug use in multiples of 2 over time. Results: Emotional change: The drug-dependent person experiences mood swings related to drug use. Gradually there is a personality change and all activity and thoughts revolve around drugs. Judgment and insight are also impaired.
What are two types of drug dependence?
Opiates, tobacco, and alcohol are common drugs that cause physical dependency. The second kind, psychological dependency, affects a person emotionally and mentally rather than, or in addition to, physiologically.
Can drugs cause personality changes?
Prolonged substance use changes your balance of neurotransmitters and can even change the structure of your brain. These changes affect your mood, your ability to think, and even your personality.