Study: How drugs affect women's mental disorders

The harmful effects of drugs on child development

The connection between mother and embryo is established immediately.
Most medications are contraindicated in the initial stages of pregnancy. The effects of drugs on pregnancy are much more powerful and unpredictable. A miscarriage is a protective reaction of nature, triggered when the fetus has significant pathologies that are incompatible with life. Mother Nature is both incredibly cruel and merciful, she saves a woman from giving birth to a sick child. This does not happen with every fetus; some embryos show an incredible will to live. Despite the effect of poisons, which are supplied to them by the mother’s body, which is designed to protect, despite the resulting pathologies, the fetus continues to develop and grow.

This is what medical research has shown.

Heroin causes placental abruption, abnormal fetal position, and early birth. Often, impaired metabolism leads to poisoning of the baby with its own feces.
Cocaine kills the fetus or causes the birth of a mentally retarded disabled person. Many experts call cocaine the most dangerous for pregnant women.
Marijuana slows down development, the fetus experiences oxygen starvation. Children are often born blind or with other visual impairments.
Tranquilizers slow down a child's growth. The baby will never be able to catch up with his peers in physical development.
Drug addicts who inhale glue, acetone, and solvents risk getting a child with disorders in the development of the nervous system.

Most complications in children of drug addicts do not depend on the type of stimulant used. Drugs during pregnancy are harmful to the child if used systematically or even once. After being born to a drug addict, the baby experiences real withdrawal, and many newborns die. Infant mortality among mothers who are drug addicts reaches 80%. Even if the child survives, he feels unwell, cries, is susceptible to all sorts of diseases due to poor immunity, and is retarded in mental development. Such children often become refuseniks, they are sentenced to childhood in a boarding school, and often to lifelong loneliness in adulthood.

Effect of drugs on pregnancy

Many drugs have a negative impact on human reproductive health. They lead to delayed sexual development, a decrease in the number of mature sperm, disruption and even complete cessation of menstruation at a young age. All this ultimately leads to infertility. But even if a drug addict woman becomes pregnant and does not give up drugs, they penetrate to the fetus through the placenta, and after childbirth through breast milk, destroying the newborn’s body.

How do drugs affect pregnancy? Cannabis derivatives - hashish, marijuana - dissolving in fats, provoke irreversible disorders in the central nervous system. A drug addict woman rarely carries her child to term. Children from such mothers are significantly behind their peers in physical and mental development. They often get sick due to reduced immunity - respiratory tract diseases and digestive system disorders are most often observed.

Certain drugs lead to pathologies of germ cell chromosomes and even provoke their rupture. Chromosome abnormalities cannot but lead to dire consequences for the developing organism. Most of the embryos with such pathologies die, and those who survive suffer from various deformities. The mortality rate of newborns from drug-addicted mothers reaches 80%.

Drug use during pregnancy can cause a woman to experience uncontrollable vomiting, which is very difficult to treat and in most cases leads to premature birth.

The toxic effect of drugs on the fetus can be both direct - through damage to the cellular structures of the fetus, and indirect - through hormonal abnormalities and changes in the uterine mucosa. The molecular weight of narcotic substances is very small, so they easily penetrate the placenta. The insufficiently developed fetal liver is not able to quickly neutralize drugs, so they circulate for a long time throughout the tiny body, causing irreparable damage to it.

By taking drugs during pregnancy, a woman forces her unborn baby to do the same. He becomes a drug addict already in the womb. Therefore, after giving birth, such babies often experience symptoms of “withdrawal” when their body does not receive the next dose. The child becomes very irritable and excitable.

Drug use by a pregnant woman leads to the following complications:

premature birth;
increased risk of stillbirth;
increased likelihood of miscarriage;
the newborn has very low weight;
delayed mental development of the child;
sudden infant death syndrome.

The likelihood of developing this syndrome when a pregnant woman uses opium increases 20 times!

Who can help in this situation

It is absolutely clear that drugs and pregnancy are incompatible things. But what to do if a woman has already found herself in a similar situation. Who can help to minimize the above problems as soon as possible? The situation is complicated by the fact that if a pregnant woman stops taking the drug, she experiences withdrawal symptoms, withdrawal symptoms, from which the fetus often dies.

Therefore, if a pregnant woman decides not to use, she needs to go to a drug treatment hospital or a gynecologist. Such a woman will undergo detoxification (cleansing of toxins) in a hospital setting. If the drug addict has not undergone a detoxification procedure, then after birth the baby is examined by specialists. If necessary, the newborn is detoxified.

Let's consider what impact the use of certain types of psychoactive substances can have.

Effect of cocaine In 8% of mothers who use, pregnancy ends in stillbirth due to placental abruption. The lifestyle of cocaine abusers often (25%) leads to premature birth (premature babies) and a slowdown in the birth process. In addition, taking cocaine by a pregnant woman can lead to the development of convulsions, arrhythmias, seizures and other conditions, during which injury or death of the fetus is likely. For pregnant women, cocaine is the most dangerous drug, especially in its pure form. Cocaine is more likely to cause stillbirth than with other drugs.
Consequences of exposure to the fetus: Tachycardia. Slowing fetal growth. Reduced growth of the fetal brain and body. Newborns may suffer from heart attacks and/or cerebrovascular accidents due to high blood pressure and vascular spasms (the risk is especially increased if the pregnant woman uses within 48 - 72 hours before birth). The effects of cocaine on nerve receptors can contribute to a child's behavior disorders, increased irritability, delayed speech development and impaired thinking abilities. During breastfeeding, cocaine passes directly into the mother's milk. The child becomes restless, sleeps poorly and, in some cases, has epileptic seizures.

Effect of opiates Complications of pregnancy (associated with use and abrupt cessation): The lifestyle of opiate abusers often leads to premature birth (premature babies), slowing down the birth process of every second child. Stillbirth and miscarriage (due to abrupt cessation of use).

Consequences of exposure to the fetus: Impaired fetal growth. Increased or decreased (depending on the dose) excitability of the fetus. Increased risk of fetal malposition (breech presentation). Disorders that appear during infancy: Low body weight. Microcephaly. Increased risk of sudden death. High morbidity and mortality (due to opiate inhibition of systems responsible for the body's resistance). Disorders that appear at an older age: Slow mental, motor and speech development of the child by 18 months. Attention deficit and hyperactivity. Sleep disorders. Anger and irritability. Poor speech skills. Tactile, visual and auditory perceptions are below normal. Abstinence syndrome in a newborn: manifests itself depending on the level of use and on the child himself. About three out of four newborns suffer from the same withdrawal symptoms as adults: chills, runny nose, extreme agitation, insomnia, rapid breathing, crying. During breastfeeding, opiates can be passed to the newborn through the mother's milk.

Effect of psychostimulants To date, the effect of these drugs on pregnant and unborn children has not been studied enough. One study showed an increased risk of developing congenital heart disease and clubfoot in girls. The consequences of using ecstasy are the same as the consequences of using other amphetamines. Methamphetamine use triples the risk of fetal growth retardation. Even if born on time, a child whose mother used methamphetamine will, on average, weigh 2 kg less than normal and also have a smaller head circumference. Using methamphetamine during pregnancy also increases the risk of complications during pregnancy, such as preterm labor and problems with the placenta. Consequences of exposure to the fetus: Cases of children being born with birth defects - heart disease, cleft lip and palate - have been recorded, but scientists have not established what caused these defects. After birth, a baby exposed to amphetamines may experience withdrawal symptoms such as shaking, weakness, and trouble breathing.

Effects of benzodiazepines Effects on the fetus: Newborns may suffer from breathing problems. in older age, the consequences may manifest as an impaired stress response. Abstinence syndrome in the newborn: If the mother used daily, the infant may suffer from withdrawal problems - agitation, problems sleeping and eating, epileptic seizures. These phenomena can manifest themselves for quite a long time - from two weeks to eight months.

The influence of marijuana, hashish Complications of pregnancy: It has been established that the use of cannabis during pregnancy leads to a shortening of the gestational period and a slowdown in fetal weight growth, and in more active cannabis users - to tremor and changes in the visual reactivity of newborns. There may be a longer labor. Consequences of exposure to the fetus: Reduced fetal growth. It can subsequently affect boys - their reproductive functions are reduced. May manifest itself in disorders of the nervous system and vision. During breastfeeding, it is possible to transfer the drug to the newborn through mother's milk.

The influence of hallucinogens (mushrooms of the genus psilotsibum, LSD, PCP or phencyclidine, cyclodol, diphenhydramine, toren). Pregnancy complications: increased risk of miscarriage. Consequences of exposure to the fetus : Microcephaly. Attention disturbance. Sudden attacks of excitement, mood instability. Limitation of joint mobility. Neurological disorders (weakened reflexes)

Watch a video online about the effects of drugs during pregnancy

As you can see, substance use puts a child's health at significant risk even before birth. Identification and treatment of drug addiction in this population group is extremely important, since in addition to the direct impact on the expectant mother’s body, drug use affects the development of the fetus and the outcome of pregnancy.

Drug use during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with severe malformations, birth defects, and spontaneous abortions. After formation during the first trimester, the fetal organ systems develop and grow throughout the rest of pregnancy.

Exposure to drugs during the second and third trimesters causes deformities, functional defects, intrauterine growth retardation, premature birth, and rupture of membranes. The sensitivity of the developing organs and systems of the fetus to the transplacental effects of narcotic substances depends on the period of organogenesis, specific to each organ system.

At the birth of a baby who has experienced intrauterine exposure to narcotic substances, the doctor must be prepared for the appearance of withdrawal syndrome and begin appropriate treatment. Postnatal care and medical assistance in overcoming medical and psychological problems that arise between mother and infant are necessary for optimal outcome.

Where is female drug addiction treated?

A woman drug addict is a terrifying phenomenon, not only because she is an expectant mother. Treatment of drug addiction in women is complicated by the peculiarities of female psychology. Usually girls try drugs in a state of depression, when they lack the attention of loved ones. This component is no less important for recovering from a state of anesthesia.

A drug addict needs psychological support even more than a male drug addict. Therefore, the best option for treating addictions in women is a serious drug treatment center, where, along with doctors, psychologists and volunteers who themselves have gone through a difficult path from drug addiction to a normal life take part in recovery. A pregnant woman should not waste her time; if you have a problem with drugs, immediately call the Orientir drug treatment clinic. Consult with a specialist - the happiness, health, and life of your baby now depend on you.

The influence of drugs on conception, pregnancy and child development

08/22/2016

About the disease / Parents /

Calculating the cost of drug addiction treatment Each case of addiction is individual. Some people need special nutrition or medications, others need extra hours of therapy with a psychologist. We will help you choose a treatment option that is right for you or your loved one.

The expectant mother and her child are closely related to each other: almost any substance that enters a woman’s body enters the baby’s blood through the placenta. The consequences of taking drugs during pregnancy depend on the type of substance used:

Opium. When consumed by a pregnant woman, the fetus develops hypoxia, intrauterine growth retardation, and withdrawal syndrome. The baby will suffer from muscle cramps and spasms.
Heroin. Under the influence of a narcotic substance, placental abruption and premature birth can occur. In some cases, the fetus dies from poisoning with its own feces.
Cocaine. The drug negatively affects the baby’s nervous system. Children of women addicted to cocaine suffer from developmental pathologies and become disabled due to serious damage to the nervous system.

LSD. Taking narcotic drugs of this group has a negative effect on the nervous system. Women addicted to LSD often experience premature births and miscarriages.
Marijuana. Smoking this drug leads to developmental delays in the child. The baby may be born with diseases of the visual organs.
Tranquilizers. Under the influence of this group of drugs, children are born with low birth weight. The defect is not compensated over time.
Glue, acetone, chemical solvents. Inhalation of vapors of these substances leads to disorders of the nervous system of the fetus.

Drug-addicted women have poor nutrition, so their children are born weakened and lag behind their peers in development. There is a high mortality rate among children of drug addicts.