Behavioural and development patterns in children born to drug addicted mothers

Abstract

This researcher paper explores the behavioural and development patterns in children born to drug addicted mothers of six years and younger and their comparison with the children of non addicted mothers. Number of health threats have been documented of the children of drug-addicted mothers in the recent past empirical studies. The children of drug-addicted mothers are low in height, weight and congnitive and physical abilities as compared to the children of non-addicted mothers. Further, several drugs pose different risks of physical disabilities for the drug addictive children. It is also examined that environment plays the important role in supporting the children of drug-addictive mothers in the shape of parental care and school. The drug abuse parents can seriously impair the development and growth of the children in the latter years.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Thesis Statement4

Introduction4

Overview5

Discussion6

Obstetrics6

Neonates7

Toddlers9

Preschool9

Risk factors of Drugs10

The Role of Environment11

Conclusions13

References14

Behavioural and development patterns in children born to drug addicted mothers

Thesis Statement

The behavioural and development patterns in children born to drug addicted mothers of six years and younger and their comparison with the children of non addicted mothers

Introduction

The issue of children born to the drug addicted mothers has taken considerable amount of the concern in the last 2 decades. There are an increasing number of children who born to the drug addicted mothers who report the various health problems and are also handicapped since the last 1 decade (Greenfield, 2002). Those children are not even given considerable amount of importance because of their drug addicted parents. This can seriously jeopardize the behaviour and development patterns of those children in the formative years especially in the age of 6 years and the younger. Since the problem is growing in the society regarding the children of drug addicted parents, there is a dire need to address this problem. Mothers all around the world need to start taking responsibility to stop their drug addiction on the account of the health of their babies. Several studies have reported that drug addicted mothers has negative influence on their babies in the pregnancy stages, chances of the foetal babies, and other stages of the physical and mental developments. Around 50 to 80% of those children are reported to become drug addict themselves (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2002). The sad demise is that this affects the mental abilities of the children in the latter years in their growth and they not only become vulnerable but victims of the drugs. Seizures, panic attacks, psychosis and the like are frequent health problems faced the children born to drug addicted mothers (Barnard & McKeganey, 2004). Several researchers reveal that the woman who abuse the drugs and alcohol, are also lack in providing stable and nurturing environment to their children as they might deal with challenging life circumstances that include the severe economic and social problems, and lack of affordable housing (Niccols, et al., 2012).

Overview

The effect of drug addicted mothers on the development patterns of the new born infants ...