The paper is two parts. The first part is an essay about the range of affects that drug abuse has upon a fetus during pregnancy. The paper discusses long term and short term affects, as well as physical and behavioral affects because of drug abuse. The paper also explains what drugs, illegal and legal can do the most harm. The second part of the paper is a chart.
¶ … Substance Abuse Upon a Fetus
Women's Issues
The Effects of Substance Abuse upon a Fetus
The Effects of Substance Abuse upon a Fetus
The ideas and consensus regarding what is appropriate behavior for pregnant women has changed in the world over the course of modern history, and specifically over the course of the past few decades. It is commonly held in modern countries around the world that substance abuse of any kind of drug is harmful and to be avoided during pregnancy. The fetus within the womb and the mother are connected in innumerable ways during pregnancy. This is why it is often said that what happens to the mother during pregnancy, also happens to the fetus. If the mother experiences stress during pregnancy, the fetus experiences stress, too. If the mother is high on cocaine throughout pregnancy, the fetus will ingest cocaine as well, in several ways, but primarily through the umbilical cord. There is little use in denying that abusing drugs during pregnancy will affect the fetus. At this stage in life, the fetus will be affected detrimentally. It is true that illicit substances can hurt the body with little and long-term use, but the affects of drug use upon the fetus during pregnancy are significantly intensified because the fetus is still forming. Substance abuse during pregnancy adversely affects the fetus in a number of ways and the health of the fetus, even the life of the fetus, is in danger when pregnant mothers ingest drugs.
It is somewhat obvious that narcotics are the types of drugs that pregnant women are told during pregnancy. Examples of these drugs are cocaine, crystal meth, and heroin. Pregnancy women should additionally avoid drugs such as marijuana, cigarettes, which contain the drug nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy increases the chances of a fetus contracting fetal alcohol syndrome, and alcohol consumption during pregnancy has long since been proven to be directly related to retardation developing in the fetus. Alcohol is an interesting substance in that for the most part, women are told not to consume it during pregnancy, and yet, in the 21st century, a number of physicians in America, for example, advise pregnant women that moderate consumption of alcohol, in the form of a glass of red wine, is acceptable during certain stages of pregnancy. Whether or not women are advise to drink during pregnancy or not, it would be safer for the fetus if alcohol was avoided completely. (NIH, 2013) More than these kinds of drugs, pregnant mothers have to be careful to avoid abusing prescription drugs.
A number of countries in the world today, including the United States, have seen increase substance abuse of pharmaceuticals. Many pharmaceuticals with the potential for abuse can be acquired legally, as well as illegally. It is important that pregnant mothers and those around them become increasingly sensitive and aware of the many drugs that may even seem a part of the normal culture that will harm the fetus. (Bondi, 2013) Every kind of substance that the mother ingests will affect the fetus, whether it is food, drink, or drugs. This is why it is so important for pregnant mothers to realize what drugs they are taking, legal or illegal, so that they can minimize the detrimental affects drugs have upon the fetus, if they care enough about themselves and their babies to eliminate drugs from their lifestyles.
Taking and abusing drugs during pregnancy will not only affect the fetus physically, but also have definite potential to affect the fetus behaviorally, which may include psychologically, and emotionally. Abusing drugs during pregnancy can cause intellectual development disorders, such as retardation. Abusing drugs during pregnancy may cause the fetus to die within the womb before term, or be born stillborn. Drug abuse during pregnancy often makes the baby born underweight and often with underdeveloped body parts such as small lungs and a weak heart. The same kinds of harmful consequences that come with drug abuse for grown adults also can be passed on to the fetus; they have just as much chance to be affected by the drug abuse than the mother/user does. The physical affects of drug abuse during pregnancy may not only last while the baby is young; the harmful affects may persist into adulthood, especially if the fetus has underdeveloped body parts or limited brain functioning. Children who are born addicted to drugs or who had mothers who abused drugs during some of all of the pregnancy may have psychological, emotional, and behavioral disorders that are a direct result of the substance affecting their brains and bodies during development in the womb. (Curet et al., 2002)
Drug abuse during pregnancy is completely avoidable. The damage that is done to the fetus during pregnancy as a result of drug abuse is again, completely avoidable. When women become pregnant unexpectedly, they still have power over their bodies and their babies. Education and healthy living are key to keeping the fetus safe during pregnancy. Women who are already addicts when they become pregnant have a much harder challenge than their non-addicted counterparts. There are programs that outreach into communities where women who are junkies, from legal or illegal substances are sought out and given assistance; of course it is always easier to help women when they come into a health care facility of their own volition. If a mother cares enough about herself and her fetus, then there is no reason why she would knowingly and willfully ingest substances such as drugs, which will very likely guarantee adverse effects in her baby once born, if born at all.
Knowledge, Enquiry, & Communication: EP2 Draft Model
Studies adding to this idea (citations)
Points made on this theme
Type of evidence in these studies
Limitations of evidence
Strengths of evidence
Theme One
It is guaranteed that the fetus will be affected by the mother's substance abuse
Curet, L.B., & Hsi, A.C. (2002). Drug abuse during pregnancy. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 45(1), 73-88.
Everything that goes into the mother, goes into the fetus.
Clinical trials.
More drugs could have been included.
Based on literature review of old research and new research technique.
Theme Two
Drug abuse is more than illegal drugs.
Bondi, P. (2013).
Statewide Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse & Newborns. Florida State Attorney General, Web.
Caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and pharmaceuticals are also dangerous.
Long history of data gathered and analyzed by the government.
Does not include data from private institutions.
It is a formal report from the Attorney General.
Theme Three
Drug abuse has many kinds of affects.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2013). Prenatal Exposure to Drugs of Abuse. NIH, Web, Available from: http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/topics-in-brief/prenatal-exposure-to-drugs-abuse. 2013 May 19.
There are long-term and short-term affects; there are physical and behavioral affects.
Large, reputable government sponsored facility.
Does not include data from private institutions.
NIH is a leader in this field.
References:
Bondi, P. (2013). Statewide Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse & Newborns. Florida State Attorney General, Web, Available from: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/RMAS-94LJPF/$file/Statewide_Task_Force_on_Prescription_Drug_Abuse_and_Newborns_Final_Report.pdf. 2013 May 19.
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