Methamphetamines Use and the Fetus

The Effects of Methamphetamines on the Fetus

Scientific Research

Methamphetamine is a drug to be avoided at all costs if you are,
or think that you might be pregnant

Methamphetamine is a drug to be avoided at all costs if you are, or think that you might be pregnant. Studies have shown that a single hit of methamphetamine can cause damage to the fetus. Science Daily reports, in 2005, that at Toronto University, a study proved that mice receiving only one dose of amphetamine during pregnancy delivered offspring with neurological deficiencies, and reduced motor co-ordination. Even then, meth use during pregnancy was known to cause low birth weight and cleft palates.

All drugs are to be avoided during pregnancy but meth effects seem to be among the most severe in terms of the damage done by very minimal drug use by pregnant mouse. The researchers commented that it was remarkable how only a single use of meth could cause such long term and possibly irreversible damage. The extreme results appear to be caused because meth can cause DNA damage to the vulnerable developing fetus. As always, further research is necessary to show that similar results might be expected with a human fetus - which would seem likely to be the case. Researchers in this program have done other research, noting that in adult meth users it is possible to observe the degeneration of the brain with continued meth use.

(Source reference: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/07/050727063759.htm)

Meth Found in Hair Samples of Babies

In other studies, from 2006, hair samples of babies exposed to crystal meth as a fetus showed traces of meth in the hair, which proves that methamphetamine has an ability to cross the placental barrier.

(Source reference: http://www.bmj.com)

Brain Abnomalies

A study from 2009, at the School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, discovered brain abnormalities in children exposed to amphetamine in the womb. In a study of 29 meth exposed children and 37 non-meth exposed children it was discovered that all the meth children had brain abnormalities consistent with their brain formation having been accelerated in an abnormal way. Drugs and pregnancy do not mix, and these children displayed failure to reach normal developmental milestones. The study confirms that irritability, lethargy and disturbances of motor coordination occur with fetal exposure to meth. Further studies will be under way to see if this damage will be reversed with age.

(Source references: http://www.aan.com)

In March 2010, a study was published by the Society for Neuroscience that again studies brain abnormalities in children exposed to meth by their mothers during pregnancy and found that meth effects on the developing fetus could be more severe than alcohol.

The report mentions that of over more than 16 million Americans who have used meth, around 19,000 are pregnant women, from data obtained by National Surveys. Nearly half of the women who had used meth also used alcohol during pregnancy.

Meth Newborns Hard to Stimulate

A further study, in 2011, reveals that newborns are hard to stimulate and arouse when they have been exposed to meth during pregnancy. The study was conducted by PAS, the Paediatric Academic Society, at a meeting in Denver. The babies were tested against other babies that had been subjected to substance abuse, to ensure that results were consistent for babies that had been exposed to meth as well as other substance abuse.

A Need to Better Drug Awareness Education

The findings of these surveys show not only that meth drug is very destructive to the fetus but that drug education programs to date, intended to bring drug awareness to young women who are drug using and pregnant, are failing to stop pregnant women using meth.

Narconon programs for drug education are known to be highly effective. Narconon has a program for drug education designed to be used with schoolchildren. The only time to make women aware of meth risks, before they are pregnant, is to introduce effective drug education program into schools at the earliest time.

People wanting to have the benefit of drug-free kids and teens, only need to contact Narconon to make use of our drug awareness program in their school. With increasing levels of drug addiction, and substance abuse in school aged kids, the Narconon program helps everyone to understand why taking drugs is harmful, not only young women who will be mothers and who could later be using meth.

Whilst people might feel that the Narconon program is only one of many available at this time, Narconon can demonstrate that children using their drug education program make an informed decision, as a result of the program, which means that they make a choice. Children who use the Narconon drug education program choose to say no to drugs.

Narconon Meth Addiction Recovery Program

Narconon also offers meth addiction recovery programs so that women who are using meth can give up their addiction. If you have a problem with meth in your life, Narconon is the answer, and provides a drug-free, safe detox from meth use, and long-term solution to drug addiction.

Narconon treatment for meth and other substance abuse, is not just about young women and mothers, but the health and safety of the future generations, given the extent to which any meth use can harm the fetus and cause genetic damage.

For more information about our private and unique substance abuse rehabilitation program, please call 1-877-782-7409.