Drug use during pregnancy?

Question

My husband and I are considering adopting through foster care. Most of the children in our area are in foster care because the mother is unfit because of her drug use. Does anyone know the long term effects of drug use (crystal meth) on a child whose mother used while pregnant? Will those children be more likely to become addicts themselves later on? Or will a loving nurturing home environment overcome any possible predisposed traits that may have been inherited? I don't, by any means, think these children should not be given a chance, but I would like to know as much as I can so that we can be prepared and make an informed decision. Thanks in advance for any help you can give!

Answer 1

I believe its the environment they're in to whether they do it or not. If a mother did drugs like crystal meth while pregnant, it can cause major problems for the child for the rest of its life. Just like if it was a "crack baby"

Answer 2

I found this website that has a lot of helpful information on this subject:

http://www.kci.org/meth_info/msg_board_p...

I hope it helps you both to make an informed decision, and I want to applaud you and your husband for having the love within you to take in a child that needs to be loved and cared for!  

Answer 3

Nearly 4 percent of pregnant women use illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, Ecstasy and other amphetamines,meth, and heroin, according to a 2005 government survey.These and other illicit drugs may pose various risks for pregnant women and their babies. Some of these drugs can cause a baby to be born too small or too soon, or to have withdrawal symptoms, birth defects, or learning and behavioral problems.  

Answer 4

A single prenatal dose of methamphetamine – commonly known as speed – may be enough to cause long-term neurodevelopmental problems in babies, say University of Toronto researchers.

In research published in the August 2005 issue of Free Radical Biology and Medicine, University of Toronto pharmacy and pharmacology professor Peter Wells and his colleagues determined that exposing pregnant mice only once to methamphetamine led to delivery of offspring with long-term neurodevelopmental problems, including reduced motor co-ordination. Methamphetamine is a potent and addictive stimulant.

Here is the full article....

http://alcoholism.about.com/od/meth/a/bl...