EFFECTS ON BODY

Complications During Pregnancy Associated with Cocaine Use

• Premature Birth

    • Cocaine is highly fat soluble and thus passes easily into the placenta, which provides nourishment for the fetus.

    • Cocaine incresases the heart rate in the fetus which can lead to an increased oxygen supply to the fetus. The decreased oxygen supply can result in growth retardation or fetal disruption, causing premature birth

    • The drug has also been shown to stimulate the pregnant uterus to contract, causing the pregnant mother to deliever early

• Fetal Abnormalities

    • Adverse effects that have been reported in children exposed to cocaine in utero include low birth weight, decreased head and brain size, and increased risk of deformities of the genital and urinary organs. "Crib death" or sudden infant death syndrome is also more common in babies exposed to cocaine in utero.

• Looking Ahead...into the future

    • Children exposed to cocaine while in utero are reported to have a high rate of behavorial difficulties, some of which include hypersensitivity, irritability, and difficulty forming reliationships.

    • These children also are more likely to struggle in school and have greater instance of brain abnormality.

• Shocking Statistics

Cocaine use during pregnancy has become relatively common. The National Association for Perinatal Addiction Research and Education (NAPARE) estimates that 1 out of 10 newborns is exposed to one or more illicit drugs in utero, with the most common drug being cocaine. A more recent study in an urban obsetric population found that 31% of the newborns tested positive for cocaine in their bodies.

Complications from Use of Unsterile Needles

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