The damage done to the unborn child through the continuing use and abuse of drugs or alcohol devastates that child throughout their natural life. The teratogensic effects of substance abuse on the unborn child are a completely preventable tragedy, and we must all do whatever possible to avert this damage.

Fortunately, many women take pregnancy as a motivation to change their behaviors, if only to protect the health of their unborn child; and to best ensure success when the stakes are so high, pregnant women needing drug or alcohol treatment need to consider residential rehab.

Unfortunately, although pregnant women seem deserving of immediate treatment above all others, the additional complications of treating pregnant women greatly limits the number of available facilities willing or able to take them in.

Illegal drug abuse is widespread. As many as one in 10 babies may be born to women who use illegal drugs during their pregnancies. These substances can be harmful to the health and growth of your fetus during pregnancy. Drug abuse can affect the baby both before and after birth. Most drugs reach the fetus by crossing the placenta. If the mother uses drugs after her baby is born, they can be passed to him or her through the breast milk.

Since the mid-1980’s, about 1 million babies in this country have been born to mothers who used cocaine during pregnancy, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Cocaine is a dangerous drug for unborn babies and for pregnant women. Babies exposed to cocaine before birth may face health problems, ranging from subtle to life threatening. However, because most pregnant women who use cocaine also use other drugs, like alcohol and tobacco, it is difficult to determine which health problems are caused solely by cocaine use.

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