Methodological Issues in Assessing the Impact of Prenatal Drug Exposure

Methodological Issues in Assessing the Impact of Prenatal Drug Exposure

Prenatal drug exposure is a common public health concern that can result in perinatal complications, birth defects, and developmental disorders. The growing literature regarding the effects of prenatal exposure to specific drugs such as tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, and heroin is often conflicting and constantly changing. This review discusses several reasons why the effects of prenatal drug expos...

Prenatal Drug Exposure: Ethical Issues

Increased understanding of how the well-being of the fetus is affected by prenatal behavior has focused attention on the ethical issues surrounding fetuses. In this article the sources of societal disapproval of drug-abusing, pregnant women are explored, and the relationship between our moral judgments and public policies is discussed. In examining the nature of a pregnant woman’s obligation to...

Complex Developmental Issues of Prenatal Drug Exposure

The polydrug pattern of drug use by pregnant women, combined with the varying purity, dosage, and timing during pregnancy when drugs are taken, makes it very difficult to determine the developmental impact of any specific drug. Nevertheless, studies of drug-exposed newborns suggest an array of behavioral characteristics that make their care challenging, and a few studies indicate that some pren...

Methodological Issues in Controlled Studies on Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Drug Abuse, 114

Methodological issues in controlled studies on effects of prenatal exposure to drug abuse.