Illegal Drugs During Pregnancy: The Risks and Consequences

Pregnancy is a critical stage in the development of a child whereby exposure to toxins could greatly harm both the overall health and potential survival of the child. It is for this reason that physicians usually advise expectant mothers to avoid using any form of drugs even the prescribed medications. Illegal substances are also not safe for the unborn child and the mother either. Research on the consumption of these drugs have shown a host of health issues that could arise during pregnancy, including miscarriages, low birth weight, fetal death, premature labor, placental abruption, and maternal death. Avoiding drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, alcohol, caffeine and other substances, may ensure the good health of the unborn baby and prevent it from developing lasting health conditions. While marijuana may help ease stress, expectant mothers should avoid using illegal drugs during pregnancy as it affects proper development of the unborn child, it causes permanent health issues after birth, and it could cause miscarriages. 

Disease Process 

Despite the numerous health risks posed by the abuse of illegal substances, many people continue with the behavior choosing to identify their short-term benefits. Marijuana, for instance, is a common substance favored by youths in America following legalization in a number of states. Majority of them prohibit its consumption due to the high probability of causing drug-related mental disorders. Approximately 40% of individuals with a drug use disorder in their lifetime are women with more than 26% identifying to have consumed alcohol or other substances within the previous 12 months (Blasco-Alonso et al., 2015). During the reproductive years, between 18 and 44, women have the highest likelihood of developing a substance use disorder (Forray, 2016). This occurrence poses a great risk to the mother and unborn child during pregnancy as it may cause numerous health concerns. Understanding the disease process of consuming illegal drugs during pregnancy could help increase safety measures among expectant mothers and those planning to have children in the future. 

Illegal drugs and substances have different effects on the individual and the fetus. However, the expectant mothers will rarely consider this fact as their bodies may have become dependent on the particular drug. The abuse of marijuana is similar to cigarette smoking as it contains various toxins that prevent the fetus from getting adequate supply of oxygen used for growth (Miles, Francis, & Chapman, 2010). Majority of mothers who smoke cannabis also use tobacco and alcohol increasing the danger posed on themselves and the child (Miles, Francis, & Chapman, 2010). The behavior increases levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide that limit supply of oxygen to the unborn child. The drug dependent mothers will not provide the unborn fetus with appropriate conditions to develop properly and become of good health. 

Since the legalization of marijuana in numerous states, significant concern has been that it will act as a gateway drug to more risky substances like cocaine and heroin. These illegal drugs affect the health of the child even after birth (Welle ‐ Strand et al., 2013). The placenta cannot bar all the risks that the fetus faces as it allows cocaine to circulate in the unborn child. As a result, the mother may risk losing the baby prematurely through miscarriages, premature labor, or placental abruption that can cause severe bleeding (Jaques et al., 2014). Due to the weak immunity of the fetus, it cannot easily eliminate the opioids in its blood enabling the occurrence of these life-threatening conditions. Abuse of heroin also leads to similar reactions to the pregnant mother and the unborn child. Its addictive nature could cause the birth of drug-dependent children (Blasco-Alonso et al., 2015). Low birth weight, intracranial hemorrhage, trouble breathing, violent behavior, and increased heart rates are some of the negative effects on the mother and child through consumption of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), Phencyclidine (PCP), and Methamphetamine drugs (Forray, 2016). Other issues may arise after the birth of the child in terms of legal matters. Drug-dependant mothers may not always present their addiction to medical care practitioners, as they fear losing their child to child-welfare services or the punishment by law (Escuder-Vieco et al., 2016). The expectant mothers should take grave caution during prenatal care by avoiding illegal substance for the good health of their children. 

Symptoms and Assessment 

Some impacts of abusing drugs can help identify the drug-dependent mothers who may expose their children to the numerous health risks. For instance, consumption of Methamphetamine causes increased heart rate. Therefore, during prenatal care, the health workers may be able to identify the abnormal heart rate in a mother or its child. This practice is only possible if the expectant women visit hospital, clinics, or any medical institution for care in the early stages of the pregnancy. 

Placental abruption is also a common effect of using prohibited drugs whereby the placenta detaches itself from the uterine wall (McKeever, Spaeth-Brayton, & Sheerin, 2014). Research shows that such an occurrence may lead to limited supply of blood for the unborn child and could present cases of excessive bleeding for the mother. The PCPs and LSDs impact the behavior of the mother significantly as they cause extreme violence. Health workers can recognize this behavior as she shows lack of regard for the unborn child. These symptoms enable medical practitioners to provide interventions to safeguard the health and wellness of both. 

Some symptoms of illegal drug consumption are presented after the birth of the child. In this case, the withdrawal symptoms, like extreme shaking and irritability, indicate a child’s dependence on the illegal drugs that the mother consumed (Welle ‐ Strand et al., 2013). The occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage, brain damage, and low blood sugar may require extensive lab tests to draw conclusive data. A CT scan will show abnormalities on the brain matter, including blood clots and swellings. However, unconsciousness, seizures, vomiting, and retinal hemorrhages are indicators of the condition that may lead to permanent damage of the brain (May et al., 2014). In various states including Minnesota, Iowa, and North Dakota, medical workers who attend to pregnant mothers are required to test and report if the unborn child has been exposed to illegal drugs (Blasco-Alonso et al., 2015). Body hair can be used for drug testing to identify the presence of illegal drugs up to 12 months prior to testing. As a result, medical practitioners have multiple methods of recognizing substance abuse during pregnancy. 

Medical officers have difficulty in identifying mothers who are illegal drug users even with advanced technology. The Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10) incorporates hair and urine samples are used for this measure (Grekin et al., 2010). From the 300 low-income, randomly selected post-partum women majority of whom were African American, only 24% had a positive drug screen (Grekin et al., 2010). In the toxicology screen 19% tested positive, but denied using illicit drugs showing that the testing measure were inconsistent despite reassurance of anonymity (Grekin et al., 2010). Research by Forray (2016) shows a five-fold increase between 2000 and 2009 in opiate consumption among pregnant women in the US. The drastic rise is equivalent to an epidemic of misusing prescription medication. Coupled with the difficulty to identify substance consumption, an expectant mother and child are at great risk of health deterioration. 

Nursing Interventions 

For mothers who are not dependent on the illicit drugs, being pregnant provides an opportunity to turnover a new leaf and change behavior. Majority develop a new attitude towards the substances they abused and avoid them for the sake of their child’s health (Reece-Stremtan, Marinelli, & Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, 2015). However, others do not have the same motivation to resist the craving for the drug during pregnancy. As a result, such individuals may only get care late into the pregnancy or just before childbirth when it could be too late. It is important to note that the attitude of medical practitioners towards the pregnant mothers is an important factor in providing proper care for the unborn child (Economidoy, Klimi, & Vivilaki, 2012). The nurse should demonstrate acceptance of the individual by treating them like any other patient in need of medical assistance. This practice enhances the dignity and self-worth of the pregnant woman. As a result, medical practitioners attending to expectant mothers should develop a positive attitude such that they can motivate them to change their behavior for the health and safety of their unborn children. 

In the event that a pregnant drug user visits a hospital, a medical team should be involved in the provision of care. Research shows that such a patient requires a multi-disciplinary team to cater for her numerous needs, including psychiatric nurse, social worker, drug liaison midwife, and obstetrician. The professionals provide counseling and social support by prioritizing the pregnant woman’s access to treatment. The patient may be subjected to numerous care models during this period of prenatal care (Miles, Francis, & Chapman, 2010). Some patients may require intervention to alleviate denial, coping with powerlessness, altering nutritional practices, dealing low self-esteem, changing family process, deficiency in knowledge and sexual dysfunction. Each method serves a critical need that the patient may be experiencing providing the medical practitioners with multiple ways of providing quality care. 

For the patient to provide appropriate concern for their own health and that of their child, one should change their thoughts on illegal drug abuse. Various therapy models help patients develop a negative attitude towards the consumption of substances or coping mechanisms of withdrawal symptoms. When the health worker deduces that a patient feels powerless probably due to ineffective recovery attempts, the intervention should help her overcome this belief (Vera, 2014). The nurses and counseling team aid the expectant mother in identifying that problems exist, and it is their role to persist until they are solved. The patient identifies goals and desired outcomes, while possible alternative is discussed. In this case, therapy models assist in the development of a professional relationship that helps alleviate the risks posed by substance abuse. 

Medications 

Pregnant mother may be required to incorporate pharmacological therapy to accelerate detoxification and prevent relapse into drug dependence (Vera, 2014). Numerous patients who lack self-control and will to progress with abstinence may require the use of medications. For instance, methadone helps minimizes the patient’s craving for the opioids while also diminishing their effects (Vera, 2014). The pharmacotherapy technique is effective for withdrawal issues and long-term management of urges. The pregnant mother may go back to conducting daily activities and ultimately refrain from drug consumption. Naltrexone and nalmefine are alternative medications for suppressing dependence on a substance (Vera, 2014). When the medication is taken in the early stages of pregnancy, an expectant mother increases likelihood of giving birth to a healthy baby. Naltrexone prevents alcohol consumption by suppressing the cravings of drinking. Disulfiram is used to enhance an individual’s abstinence from alcohol consumption (Vera, 2014). The pharmacotherapy method leads to generation of acetaldehyde that causes an unpleasant reaction when alcohol is taken that helps patients develop a resistance to cravings. The above methods are just some of the pharmacological measures medical workers can use to help deter pregnant women from illegal drug use during pregnancy and become effective when coupled with therapy models. 

Conclusion 

Illegal drugs consumption during pregnancy is a common practice in the modern-day society. Women of a reproductive age are at increased risk of succumbing to drug abuse disorders, and it may negatively affect their offspring. The mothers who abuse various substances during pregnancy are less likely to visit hospitals for medical care, believing that they will not receive care. Furthermore, the legal threat in many regions acts as deterrents to the quality care until it is too late to safeguard the mother and baby. Midwives play an integral role to ensuring proper care for both due to their involvement in attending to such women. Medical workers should adopt the interventions provided in an effort to eliminate the health risks posed by illegal drug abuse during pregnancy. Further research will help develop methods of reaching out to drug-dependent expectant mothers who do not have access to medical care. 

References 

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