In the United States, drug use, of many kinds is a growing concern. Teen pregnancy is another growing problem that has become almost a popular and normal thing for kids to experience. Shockingly, it is common that people will continue to use drugs and alcohol during a pregnancy. Some common drugs during pregnancy are cigarettes, alcohol, marihuana, and cocaine. The use of alcohol and other drugs during a pregnancy can harm and sometimes even kill the baby. Some children can survive, but will develop with severe emotional, cognitive, or even physical problems. If more opportunities were offered for teens to alert them about the dangers of drug use during pregnancy, and how it can harm the development of the child, then I believe there would be a significantly lower amount of children with cognitive and emotional problems.
The total number of drug use by adolescents has declined within recent years, but the current rates are still remarkably high. Most studies have shown that adolescents seem to be the greater problem with drug use during pregnancies. One particular study was done over cigarette, alcohol, and other drug use by school-age pregnant adolescents. They found in this study that nicotine was the most commonly used drug among others. Closely behind that followed alcohol and marijuana. Although there is not much significant differences between births of drug uses and non drug users, it was found that users are more likely to have abortions and multiple diseases. Drug and alcohol use can negatively affect the adolescent mother’s health as well as the newborn. (Amaro, Hortensia., Zuckerman, Barry., and Cabral, Howard, 1989).
Ninety-three percent of 229 patients reported positive for drug use during pregnancy. 31.6% were found using marijuana. Thirteen point eight percent were found using cocaine. (Kokotailo, Patricia K., Adger, Hoover., Duggan, Anne K., Repke, John., and Joffe, Alain., 1992) . These were determined using urine samples taken during the initial prenatal visit and also at a third trimester visit. The samples were screened for eight different types of drugs. Most fathers consisted of African American adolescents. A majority of the women tested had failed a grade in school, making the highest grade level in school 11th grade. No patients were married, and few lived with the father. Over 19% of the patients could not participate in the rest of the study because of spontaneous abortions, fetal death syndrome, early delivery, or could simply not provide enough urine for the sample.
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The drug users showed significant differences in several variables compared to mothers who did not use drugs. Most drug users were younger and did not have a mother available in the household to help with the pregnancy process. The drug users were more likely to smoke cigarettes and not be in school. The drug users also showed a higher level of friends who were also involved in tobacco, marijuana, and cocaine use. The most significant fact found was that most drug users claimed they thought there was no risk or slight risk to the fetus from maternal cigarette smoking. (Kokotailo, Patricia K., Adger, Hoover., Duggan, Anne K., Repke, John., and Joffe, Alain., 1992).
After the study was complete, it showed that further things need to be done in order to make pregnant teens aware of the dangers of using drugs while being pregnant. Many risk indicators are associated with drug using and can help point out early drug users. Some of these key factors for possible drug users are difficulties in school, living apart from their mothers, cigarette smoking, drug use from other family members, and even simply being around friends who participate in drug using. If adolescents were not smoking, then they were more likely to be found using alcohol or other drugs.
A study was examined for maternal attitudes in pregnancy, and results showed at the end of the study that most mothers showed negative feelings toward being pregnant and having little to no desire for physical contact, care, or desire to teach the newborn. Significant attitudes were also shown for mothers not wanting the baby and mothers attitudes for not wanting to care for or teach. There needs to be further examination and consideration to how maternal attitudes about pregnancy can have an effect on offspring and how there needs to be greater awareness on these maternal attitudes. (Hutchinson, Delyse M., Alati, Rosa., Najman, Jake M., Mattick, Richard P., Bor, Williamson., O’Callaghan, Michael., Williams, Gail M., 2008).
Mother daughter bonding is a very important part of pregnancy. This can happen after pregnancy and even during pregnancy. If the mother is doing drugs, it can negatively influence the ability of the unborn baby to bond with the mother. The way a baby bonds with its mother during pregnancy can influence the way it will bond after pregnancy. Early attachment with the mother can predict later psychological and behavioral outcomes during their adolescence. The use of drugs and alcohol can not only harm the baby in several ways, but it can even cause you stress and anxiety. Mothers who have higher anxiety or depression during pregnancy can cause the child to have emotional or behavioral problems after birth.
There is little research available that proves that having negative attitudes during pregnancy and infant care giving are associated with problems with the child’s development and health. A study that was done on women and children from 6 months who had post partum disorder, and found that mother’s negative attitudes toward the pregnancy and care giving of the infant independently predicted poorer psychosial health problems. (Hutchinson, Delyse M., Alati, Rosa., Najman, Jake M., Mattick, Richard P., Bor, William., O’Callaghan, Michael., Williams, Gail M. 2008).
Further research needs to be done on adolescents who use drugs during pregnancy. More information needs to be provided about children born from parents who have used drugs. Teenagers need to understand the risks associated with drug usage and pregnancy. There needs to be more preventive programs to aware teens and provide alternatives for them instead of seeing them take the “I don’t care route”, and harm a child. It would be effective if teenagers could see children affected by their parents who have used drugs so they can relate and hopefully decided to quit. This topic could be offered in a high school course or simply be educated through a health education course.
