Effect of maternal substance abuse on the fetus, neonate, and child

Abstract

1. Nicole A. Bailey, MD*,† 2. Magaly Diaz-Barbosa, MD*,† 1. *Division of Neonatology, Kidz Medical Services, Coral Gables, FL 2. †Division of Neonatology, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital/Florida International University School of Medicine, Miami, FL * Abbreviations: AAP: : American Academy of Pediatrics ACOG: : American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ADHD: : attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder AMPH: : amphetamine CNS: : central nervous system FAS: : fetal alcohol syndrome LBW: : low birthweight MDMA: : 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine METH: : methamphetamine NAS: : neonatal abstinence syndrome NIDA: : National Institute on Drug Abuse PCP: : phencyclidine SSRI: : selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor Clinicians should be able to describe the short- and long-term effects on the newborn of exposure to substance abuse in utero. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the placental transfer of drugs and their effect on embryogenesis. 2. Identify the methods to screen for drugs in the mother and neonate. 3. Understand the short- and long-term adverse effects of legal and illicit maternal substance abuse in the newborn. 4. Identify therapies for the drug-exposed neonate. 5. Describe American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for breastfeeding mothers who abuse substances. The abuse of certain drugs or medications during pregnancy can have detrimental effects on the fetus and neonate. Previous research has shown that 5% of pregnant wo…