Substance Abuse During Pregnancy and Childhood - (Drug and Alcohol Abuse Reviews) by Roland R Watson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Alcohol and other drugs of abuse cause significant physi- ological changes, especially during development. The effects on the infant and child range from severe mental retardation to mild changes in activity and neurological functions. Although the level of intake needed to cause fetal damage is not clear, the magnitude of the problem is significant, with many long-term sequelae. As a result, it becomes critical to better diagnose and manage drug and alcohol use during pregnancy. This must involve special training for health care professionals. In addi- tion, recognition of the psychosocial factors affecting alcohol use, especially by youth and young adults, is critical to modi- fying behavior, and thus reducing fetal alcohol exposure. Cultural considerations can also come into play in modi- fying alcohol and drug use by women so as to reduce fetal damage. The trends in alcohol and drug use by youth forecast rising levels of damage to infants. These children will need extensive medical and educational care for years to decades. Clearly, understanding of the role women must take in modifying their alcohol and drug use during pregnancy will facilitate changes in our cultural and educational practices that will help reduce fetal trauma from alcohol.

From the Back Cover

This collection of concise and interdisciplinary scientific reviews examines key aspects of the role of alcohol in causing fetal damage during pregnancy. Important areas reviewed include diagnosis and management of drug abuse during pregnancy, psychosocial factors that affect alcohol use by young adults, the role of cultural and ethnic groups in preventing abuse, and the training of health care personnel in prevention and treatment. Substance Abuse During Pregnancy and Childhood will be of interest to obstetricians/gynecologists, pediatricians, family medical doctors, health maintenance organizations, and those doing research on alcohol and its role in birth and neonatal defects.