Pubdate: Sat, 10 Jan 2004 Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand) Copyright: Allied Press Limited, 2004 Contact: http://www.stuff.co.nz/otago Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/925 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) INTERNATIONAL STUDY OF P'S EFFECT ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT Wellington: (NZPA) - Drug-using pregnant Auckland women are being asked to participate in an international study to see how their addiction impacts on babies. The Dominion Post reported that more than 100 mothers in Auckland, along with women from the United States, would be involved in the research, which would track babies until they were 3. Auckland University Medical School developmental psychologist Trecia Wouldes, head of the New Zealand arm of the research, told the newspaper that mothers who used P, the pure form of methamphetamine known as speed, and other drugs, were often not identified. They usually came to the attention of health professionals only if they were in a drug programme or volunteered the information. Babies from Auckland, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Idaho and California would be checked at birth then monitored at 1 month, and 1, 2 and 3 years to see if the drug use had any effect. Their weight, size and development would be monitored. More mothers using P had been referred to National Women's Hospital's drug and alcohol in pregnancy service and there was a need to plan now for the needs of their children, Dr Wouldes said. Other factors, including the family's wealth and make-up, would be considered.