Medical Health Care



Medical Health Care

Introduction

Drug abuse or substance dependence is a very serious issue, especially among women who are pregnant. Pregnant women need to realize that misuse of drugs or substance dependence poses a great threat not only to her, however the baby too is at risk. It is a sad fact that due to their substance dependence, the children who are brought in this world are prone to even greater risks in their later lives.

Almost 4% of the American women who are pregnant make use of illicit and illegal drugs, including cocaine, marijuana, heroin, ecstasy and various amphetamines, for that matter, (Amaro, 1990). These drugs along with other illegal drugs pose great threats to the health of the mother, as well as the baby inside her womb. The use of these drugs can cause a baby to be born too small or before time. It can also lead to withdrawal symptoms, behavioral and learning issues and defects at the time of birth. Since many women make use of these illicit and illegal drugs and other substances such as tobacco, the risks that the babies are faced with are very dangerous, and it also becomes difficult for the doctors to determine the specific drug that leads to a specific health issue, (Chasnoff, 1990).

Moreover, it is believed that these drugs are prepared with certain unknown impurities, which can be harmful for both, the mother and the baby, for that matter, during pregnancy. According to various studies, pregnant women who use illegal drugs have chances of being engaged in behaviors that are considered unhealthy for their pregnancy, such as the development of sexually transferred diseases and a very poor nutrition. All these factors cause difficulties in getting to know about the effects of these drugs on the pregnancy of the women.

Discussion

Risks of marijuana use during the pregnancy period

Marijuana, of all the illicit drugs, is used very frequently by women who are of a child bearing age in the USA. According to some studies, using marijuana during pregnancy can slow down the growth of the fetal and also decrease the time of pregnancy, thus increasing the chances of a premature birth. These effects are observed in women, largely, especially the ones who make use of marijuana very often, more than six times a week. After the delivery, those babies who are exposed to the marijuana on a regular basis, before they are born, undergo certain withdrawal like syndromes, such as trembling and crying excessively.

These babies also face hurdles in their abilities to touch and adjust to their surrounding environment. These babies become more sensitive to any kind of stimulation and show a tendency of having poor sleep patterns. Those who take marijuana need to understand that it can seriously harm their ability to conceive a child, be it man or a woman.

Long-term outlook for those who are exposed to marijuana

There are not many studies that follow marijuana exposed born babies through ...