Pubdate: Sat, 22 Oct 2005
Source: Nanaimo News Bulletin (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005, BC Newspaper Group
Contact:  http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/948
Author: Const. Beth Blackburn
Note: Const. Beth Blackburn is with the Nanaimo RCMP's drugs and 
organized crime awareness program.

ONE SHOT OF CRYSTAL METH COULD CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS

I've been asked frequently about the impact of a pregnant woman using 
crystal meth and the damage to her unborn child.

In research published in the August issue of Free Radical Biology and 
Medicine, University of Toronto pharmacy professor Peter Wells 
determined that exposing pregnant mice only once to methamphetamine 
led to delivery of offspring with long-term neurodevelopmental 
problems, including reduced motor co-ordination.

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.

This is an important finding, given the increasing use of "club 
drugs" among women of childbearing age.

The developing fetus appears to also be vulnerable to DNA damage from 
methamphetamine exposure because it hasn't yet developed the enzymes 
that protect it against free radicals - highly activated, destructive 
oxygen molecules that have been implicated in cancer and 
neurodegenerative diseases.

People usually think that 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. (For more information go to www.news.utoronto.ca).

Cocaine, another stimulant and widely used drug in Nanaimo, also has 
some negative effects on the fetus.

Cocaine use during pregnancy increases the risk of: fetal death, 
premature labour and delivery, miscarriage, SIDS, blood pressure 
changes, blood vessels in the fetal brain to burst, resulting in 
permanent physical and mental damage, respiratory failure, kidney 
trouble, visual problems, lack of co-ordination and retardation.

If you think you are pregnant or you know someone who is at risk and 
is pregnant be aware that you could be doing permanent damage to 
yourself and your unborn child if you are consuming any drug or alcohol.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman