Consequences of prenatal substance use.
BACKGROUND
Prenatal substance use is a major public health problem and a social morbidity, with consequences on the drug user and the offspring.


OBJECTIVE
This review focuses on the child and adolescent outcomes following in utero drug exposure.


METHODS
Studies on the effects of specific substances, legal and illegal; i.e., tobacco or nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, opiates, and methamphetamine were evaluated and analyzed.


RESULTS
In general, manifestations of prenatal exposure to legal and illegal substances include varying deficits in birth anthropometric measurements, mild-to-moderate transient neurobehavioral alterations in infancy and long-term behavioral problems noted from early childhood to adolescence. Severity of expression of behavioral problems is influenced by environmental factors. Further, behavioral alterations following in utero drug exposure often exist with mental health co-morbidities.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of the long-term consequences of prenatal drug exposure on child and adolescent mental health, health providers need to promote substance use prevention, screen for exposure effects and provide or refer affected youths for intervention services. Preventive measures and treatment should consider other factors that may further increase the risk of psychopathology in the exposed children.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexingon, KY 40536, USA.
Thitinart
T
Sithisarn
Don T
DT
Granger
Henrietta S
HS
Bada
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology
D013287:Illicit Drugs