Pubdate: Tue, 13 Sep 2005
Source: Journal, The (CN ON Edu)
Contact:  2005 The Queen's Journal
Website: http://www.queensjournal.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3942

METH HARMS BABIES' BRAINS

New research at the University of Toronto suggests that even a single
exposure to the common club drug speed can cause neurological birth defects
in babies.

"We've known for a while that meth abuse during pregnancy is associated with
low birth weight, cleft palates and other malformations, but this is the
first research demonstrating that even a single exposure can cause long-term
damage," Peter Wells, pharmacology professor, told the faculty and staff
newspaper The Bulletin. "It's an important finding, given the increasing use
of club drugs among women of childbearing age."

He said the effects of speed in the fetal brain seem to be very different
than in the adult one, where methamphetamines are believed to cause actual
physical degeneration of the brain.

"People usually think the last trimester of pregnancy is when developing
brain function is most susceptible to damage, but in this case the brain is
also affected by methamphetamine even in the earlier embryonic period,"
Wells said. 

- -- With files from The Bulletin
- ---
MAP posted-by: Josh