THE EFFECTS OF USING DRUGS WHILE PREGNANTChantelle Ingram

COCAINE• Cocaine causes a quick high immediately followed by an intense

depression and extreme craving for more of the drug• The use of cocaine while pregnant increases the chance of miscarriages

or sudden death later on in the pregnancy• The use of cocaine may also cause premature labor to occur• Using cocaine while pregnant can cause the placenta to remove itself

from the uterine wall before labor, causing bleeding which can lead to death for both he child and mother

COCAINE• Pregnant women using cocaine increase the risk of their child being born

with several disabilities• These disabilities may include issues in brain development leading to

learning disabilities later on and physical deformities of the genitals or kidneys

• Once a child is born from a mother addicted to cocaine the child may have an extremely difficult time bonding with its mother

HEROIN• Heroin effects the central nervous system and brain• The use of heroin can cause cases severe as respiratory failure, coma,

and death• Much like cocaine, heroin can cause premature birth and sudden death in

unborn babies• Heroin can also cause placental abruption

HEROIN • Children born to mothers with heroin addictions may also become

addicted to the drug• Once the addicted child is born it will go through withdrawals and may die• Although the use of heroin is dangerous while pregnant, immediately

stopping use is dangerous as well as the sudden change can be just as harmful to the baby

• The use of heroin may also lead to the baby being born with HIV

METHAMPHETAMINE• The effects of meth on an unborn child is not fully known as other drugs

are often associated with the use of meth• Along with cocaine and heroin, placental abruption is common in women

that use meth • unborn children exposed to meth run the risk of being premature and

may also be prone to heart and brain abnormalities• As the child gets older they will be more easily stressed• ADHD is also common in children who's mothers used meth

MARIJUANA• Unlike cocaine and heroin, marijuana is slightly less harmful to a fetus• The use of marijuana during pregnancy may cause respiratory issues• Children are also more likely to be premature or have a lower birth weight

if the mother smokes marijuana• Some newborns experience withdrawal symptoms when marijuana is

smoked during pregnancy

MARIJUANA• children who's mothers smoked during pregnancy are found to have more

aggression and are more prone to depression than those who do not smoke during pregnancy

• Exposure to marijuana has also linked children to learning disabilities• Newborns exposed to marijuana prenatally are likely to be more

tempermental and less responsive to calming methods

CIGARETTES• Smoking causes loss of oxygen to the bloodstream resulting in lower

oxygen levels being delivered to the fetus• Smoking increases the chances of both premature and still births by 50%• premature birth may lead to underdeveloped lungs which may lead to

respiratory problems in the future• Smoking while pregnant may cause the child to have a heart defect

CIGARETTES• Smoking during pregnancy increases the chance of life long effects on a

child including:Learning disabilitiesLower intelligenceBehavioral issuesAnd physical defects such as asthma

ALCOHOL• Alcohol carries the highest chances of a child being born with a birth

defect• A fetus is unable to efficiently break down alcohol• The blood alcohol of the child may be significantly higher than the

parents if alcohol is consumed• Alcoholism during pregnancy can lead to defects such as smaller brains,

hearts, and spines

ALCOHOL• Alcohol increases the chance of miscarriage and stillbirths • As little as one drink a day increases the child's chances of having

learning disabilities• Alcohol can cause mental, physical, and behavioral disabilities in children• Children exposed to alcohol while in the womb are more likely to have

mental health problems in the future

WHY I CHOSE TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON

CHILDREN• Each drug shares similar attributes to one another• Although similar, each drug has varying effects on children and parents• I find it both interesting and important to know and understand the

effects that each drug has the ability to do• Many people may not realize just how much a drug contributes to a childs

development

HOW THIS RELATES TO MY LIFE• I have known a few people who have had children and smoked or drank

during their pregnancy• They claim their children are fine as they did not do any hard drugs and

there are no signs of disability in their child• If I had known what I know now I would have shown them that a cigarette

can potentially be as dangerous as any other "hard drug"

WHY THIS WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE

• After college I plan to go to university to study to become an addictions counsellor

• The knowledge I have about the developmental disabilities through the use of drugs could help me better understand the reasons that addictions are formed

REFERENCES• ://http://www.mothertobabyca.org/high-times-for-marijuana-clearing-the-

smoke-about-marijuana-use-during-pregnancy/• http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/illegal-drugs-during-preg

nancy/• Textbook