Public attention has been drawn to the needs of children who have been exposed to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco in utero. Despite initial concerns that prenatal substance exposure could have global and permanent effects, current research suggests that many of these children do not have significant birth outcomes. Developmental outcomes are also mixed. This paper presents a review of the literature on the impact of prenatal drug exposure on infants and young children. In addition, birth outcome and development data are presented on 80 children who were exposed to multiple substances in utero and who were with their mothers in a treatment facility. Both intra-uterine and extra-uterine factors related to children's outcomes are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BaumanP.S.DoughertyF.E.1983Drug-addicted mother's parenting and their children's development. International Journal of the Addictions, 18(3):291–302.
2.
BayleyN.1969Manual/or the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corp.
3.
BayleyN.1993Manual for the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corp.
4.
BaysJ.1990Substance abuse and child abuse: Impact of addiction on the child. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 37:881–904.
5.
BillingL.ErikssonM.LarssonG.ZetterstromR.1980Amphetamine addiction and pregnancy: III. One year follow-up of the children. Psychosocial and pediatric aspects. Acta Paediatr Scand79:675–680.
6.
BingolN.SchusterC.IosubS.TurnerG.StoneR.K.GromischD.S.1987The influence of socioeconomic factors on the occurrence of fetal alcohol syndrome. Advances in Alcohol and Substance Abuse6(4):105–118.
7.
OlsonH.C. CarmichaelBurgessD.M.StreissguthA.P.1992Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol effects (FAE): A lifespan view, with implications for early intervention. Zero to Three, 13:24–29.
8.
ChasnoffI.J.BurnsK.A.BurnsW.J.SchnollS.H.1986Prenatal drug exposure: Effects on neonatal and infant growth and development. Neurobehavioral Toxicology and Teratology, 8:357–362.
9.
ChasnoffI.J.GriffithD.R., 1989Cocaine-exposed infants: Two year follow-up. Pediatric Research, 25:249.
10.
ChasnoffI.J.GriffithD.R.FreierC.MurrayJ.1992Cocaine/polydrug use in pregnancy: Two-year follow-up. Pediatrics, 89:284–289.
11.
ChasnoffJ.J.GriffithD.R.MacGregorS.N.DirkesK.BurnsK.A.1989Temporal patterns of cocaine use in pregnancy. Journal of the American Medical Association, 261:1741–1744.
12.
CohenS.TaharallyC.1992Getting Ready for young children with prenatal drug exposure. Childhood Education, 69(1)5–9.
13.
CosdenM.A.1995Evaluation of Casa Rosa: A residential substance abuse treatment program for low-income, perinatal women and their children. Final Grant Report. Washington D.C.: Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.
14.
CosdenM.A.1996Interim Report on Holly House. Washington, D.C.: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.
15.
DerenS.1986Children of substance abusers: A review of the literature. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 3:77–94.
16.
DixonS.D.BejarR.1989Echoencephalographic findings in neonates associated with maternal cocaine and methamphetamine use: Incidence and clinical correlates. The Journal of Pediatrics, 115:770–778.
17.
FreierK.1994In utero drug exposure and maternal-infant interaction: The complexities of the dyad and their environment. Special Issue: Prenatal drug exposure and child outcome. Infant Mental Health Journal, 15(2):176–188.
18.
FriedP.A.WatkinsonB.199036- and 48- month neurobehavioral follow-up of children prenatally exposed to marijuana, cigarettes, and alcohol. Journal of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, 11:49–58.
19.
GriffithD.R.1988The effects of perinatal cocaine-exposure on infant neurobehavior and early maternal-infant interactions. In ChasnoffI.J. (Ed) Drugs, Alcohol, Pregnancy and Parenting. Lancaster, U.K.: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
20.
HadeedA.J.SiegelS.R.1989Maternal cocaine use during pregnancy: Effect on the newborn infant. Pediatrics, 84:205–209.
21.
HowardJ.BeckwithL.RodningC.KropenskeV.1989The development of young children of substance-abusing parents: Insights from seven years of intervention and research. Zero to Three, 8–12.
22.
HutchingsD.E.1993The puzzle of cocaine's effects following maternal use during pregnancy: Are there reconcilable differences?Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 15:281–286.
23.
ImaizumiS.1992Perinatal factors that influence neonatal outcome. In Identifying the Needs of Drug-Affected Children: Public Policy Issues (OSAP Prevention Monograph- 11). Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
24.
KorenG.GladstoneD.RobesonC.RobieuxI.1992The perception of teratogenic risk of cocaine. Teratology, 46:567–571.
25.
KorenG.GrahanK.ShearH.EinarsonT.1989Bias against the null hypothesis: The reproductive hazards of cocaine. The Lancet: 1440–1442.
26.
LesterB.M.CorwinM.J.SeposkiC.SeiferR.PeuckerM.McLaughlinS.GolubH.L.1991Neurobehavioral syndromes in cocaine-exposed newborn infants. Child Development, 62:694–705.
27.
LipshultzS.E.FrasicaJ.J.OravE.J.1991Cardiovascular abnormalities in infants prenatally exposed to cocaine. Journal of Pediatrics, 118:44–51.
28.
LittleB.B.SnellL.M.KleinV.R.GilstrapL.C.III1989Cocaine abuse during pregnancy: Maternal and fetal implications. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 73:157–292.
29.
LutigerB.GrahanK.EinarsonT.R.KorenG.1991Relationship between gestational cocaine use and pregnancy outcome: A meta-analysis. Teratology, 44:405–414.
30.
McCulloughC.B.1991The child welfare response. The Future of Children, 1:61–71.
31.
MyersB. J.OlsonH.C.KaltenbachK.1992Cocaine-exposed infants: Myths and understandings. Zero to Three, 13:1–5.
32.
NeuspielD.R.HamelS.C.HochbergE.GreeneJ.CampbellD.1991Maternal cocaine use and infant behavior. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 13:229–233.
33.
NiccolsA.A.1994Fetal alcohol syndrome: Implications for psychologists. Clinical Psychology Review, 14:91–109.
34.
PetersH.ThoerellC.J.1991Fetal and Neonatal effects of maternal cocaine use. Journal of Gynecology and Neonatal Nursing, 20:121–126.
35.
ReganD.O.EhrlichS.M.FinneganL.P.1987Infants of drug addicts: At risk for child abuse, neglect, and placement in foster care. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 9:315–319.
36.
RobinsL.N.MillsJ.L.KrulewitchC.HermanA.A.1993Effects of in utero exposure to street drugs. American Journal of Public Health, 83 (Supplement):9–20.
37.
RodningC.BeckwithL.HowardJ.1989aCharacteristics of attachment organization and play organization in prenatally drug-exposed toddlers. Development and Psychopathology, 1:277–289.
38.
RodningC.BeckwithL.HowardJ.1989bPrenatal exposure to drugs: Behavioral distortions reflecting CNS impairment?Neurotoxicology, 10:629–634.
39.
RohsenowDCorbettR.DevineD.1988Molested as children: A hidden contribution to substance abuse?Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 5:13–18.
40.
StreissguthA.P.GrantT.M.BarrH.M.BrownZ.A.MartinJ.C.MaylockD.E.RameyS.L.MooreL.1991Cocaine and the use of alcohol and other drugs during pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 164:1239–1243.
41.
SuffetF.BrotmanR.1984A comprehensive care program for pregnant addicts: Obstetrical, neonatal, and child development outcomes. International Journal of the Addictions, 19:199–219.
42.
TaborB.L.Smith-WallaceT.YonekuraM.L.1990Perinatal outcome associated with PCP versus cocaine use. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 16:337–348.
43.
ZwebenJ.E.ClarkH.W.SmithD.E.1994Traumatic experiences and substances abuse: Mapping the territory. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 26:327–344.
