Pregnancy and Addiction
- Author Rj Hudson
- Published July 13, 2011
- Word count 572
It is understandably difficult for people who have never struggled with addiction to feel shocked and appalled when a pregnant woman becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol. However, few people realize that just as pregnancy couldn't stop a serious disease such as cancer, it isn't going to stop an addicted pregnant woman from using. Because addiction is a neurological disease, uncontrollable urges will be present regardless of any type of consequences or incentives to stop using. This is why people must get help for addiction- they simply can't do it alone. And because the same is true of pregnant women who are addicted to drugs, ensuring that education about pregnancy and addiction is readily available is critical to helping expecting women to help themselves.
According to a study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Addiction more than 5% of all women who were pregnant in 1992 abused drugs. This totals an unbelievable 250,000 pregnant women. Figures like these are all the more alarming when you consider that the study utilized self-reported data that was very likely at least partially incorrect. These numbers tell us that there are a great deal of pregnant women placing themselves and their unborn babies in grave danger that goes much farther than just the actual physical consequences of drug use.
Women who use drugs while pregnant are categorically more at risk of being involved in dangerous, unhealthy or violent situations. This includes being more likely to experience occurrences of violent crimes such as rape, murder, robbery, and even suicide. Health risks among drug users are even more dangerous to unborn children; especially risk of infectious disease such as herpes, syphilis, HIV, Staph infections and other conditions that can have potentially fatal implications for a fetus- and the mother. When you combine these associative risks with the actual physical risks of using drugs while pregnant you create a serious likelihood of disastrous consequences. Specific consequences for the most commonly used drugs by pregnant women are:
Marijuana: The drug used the most by pregnant women, marijuana can result in pre-term labor, premature birth, low birth weight, small head circumference (a smaller head means a smaller brain) sleep disorders, state regulation disorders and appetite problems.
Heroin: Heroin use during pregnancy is especially dangerous. The risk of having a stillborn or premature birth is exceedingly high; equally as high as the likelihood of the baby being born addicted to heroin. Heroin has been shown to result in low birth weight, lung and pulmonary disorders, cardiac difficulties and other serious, long-term health issues.
Club Drugs: Because most of these drugs- such as meth or ecstasy- are relatively new, their effects on pregnant women have not been extensively studied. However, limited studies show that babies born to mothers who are addicted to club drugs are likely to substance-dependent as well. Club drugs can have severe effects on an infant, including seizures and continual, intense crying for long periods of time for apparently no reason.
Cocaine: This street drug is surprisingly popular among pregnant women who have substance abuse problems. Cocaine use during pregnancy can lead to premature birth, stillborn fetuses, severe substance dependence, cerebral palsy, miscarriages and mental retardation, among many other risks.
If you or someone you know has a drug problem and is pregnant, you need to get help right now. Addiction treatment is readily available and could easily mean the difference between life and death: for both the baby and the mother.
To speak to someone confidentially about pregnancy and drug use, go here for an immediate live consultation:
Click here for information on one of the country's best residential inpatient treatment programs.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- Pumpkin Spice, But Make It Office-Friendly: A Beginner’s Halloween Makeup You Can Wear to Work
- The Man Behind the Cape: The Life and Tragic Fall of George Reeves.
- Is Learning to Drive in an Automatic Car Easier? — Expert Answers from Autogear Driving School Glasgow
- Nature’s First Superfood: Why Breast Milk Is the Ultimate Nourishment for Your Baby.
- Decorating the Humble Ranch House This Holiday Season with Vintage Carved Wood Furniture
- Personalized Carved Wood Doors: Your Gateway to Resort-Style Living at Home
- Cozy Neutrals and Natural Textures: Creating Your Deep, Lived-In Sanctuary
- Home for the Holidays: Creating Wholesome Spaces with Vintage Furniture and Antique Carved Doors
- Beyond the Buzzword: Understanding the Difference Between Ketosis and the Ketogenic Diet.
- The 24-290 mm Paradox: Why a 12× Zoom from 2001 Still Outresolves Today’s 8K Sensors
- The Power of Ketosis: Unlocking Your Body’s Hidden Energy Source.
- Navy Veteran With Dementia Found Dead in Assisted Living Freezer!
- Fueling the Future: Why Ketosis Is the Key to Lasting Energy and Metabolic Health.
- The Genetic Stew
- Common challenges in IT modernization
- Naka Solutions Reviews: Innovation, Quality Service, and Trader Trust
- The Style Upgrade: Why Coretec Floors Outshine Traditional Vinyl
- Ketosis Unlocked: The Science Behind Your Body’s Natural Fat-Burning State.
- Luxury Morocco Shore Excursions: Discover Authentic Beauty in Comfort and Style
- The Silent Disruptor: Understanding How Thyroid Imbalance Affects Your Body.
- Fehmi Lights Inc. & Fehmi Lites Manufacturing Co. – Shaping the Future of Illumination
- Thyroid and Hormone Harmony: The Delicate Balance That Shapes Your Health.
- Discover Morocco with Face Tours: Authentic Journeys Across the Kingdom
- The Thyroid Connection: How This Small Gland Controls Big Changes in Your Body.
- Morocco: The Rising Star of African Tourism — A Journey Through Culture, Desert, and Hospitality
- The Hidden Power of the Thyroid: Why This Tiny Gland Shapes Your Entire Health.
- The Thyroid Explained: Understanding the Silent Regulator of Health.
- Local Guide for Giles County and Pulaski, TN Real Estate Market
- Warts and Your Health: Why Ignoring Them Can Lead to Bigger Problems.
- The Hidden Dangers of Excess Weight: Why Your Health Can’t Afford to Wait.