Cocaine Addiction, Pregnancy and Brain Damage
We’ve talked about women and the need for alcohol rehab, how more and more women are becoming alcoholics, and how depression and alcoholism affect women. Recently we even talked about women who are pregnant and in need of alcohol rehab. Today, we’re going to check out how pregnant women interact with another addictive substance: cocaine.
The Effects of Cocaine During Pregnancy
According to PLoS Medicine and Medical News Today, “when mothers use cocaine during pregnancy, the exposure of the developing brain to the substance can cause specific neurological and behavioral abnormalities.”
It’s the development of the fetus’ brain that is of primary concern, and a recent study focused on exactly how cocaine works during pregnancy to create these adverse effects. It turns out that cocaine metabolism affects how cells interact with each other, signal each other and basically work together to produce proteins that the baby needs for a healthy brain.
But it’s not just the brain development of the baby that is affected during prenatal cocaine use: the long-term health of the child is impaired when cocaine is present in utero. In fact, structural changes in the DNA occur, which in turn cause structural changes in your child.
Do You Need Cocaine Addiction Treatment During Pregnancy?
As if those who are struggling with drug addiction don’t have it hard enough in terms of stereotypes and the belittling judgments of strangers, just add a child to the mix and watch that judgment turn into outright disdain. It’s difficult to get treatment even when you aren’t pregnant. If you need cocaine addiction treatment, The Canyon can provide that to you without judgment. We congratulate you on making a healthy choice for you and your child expeditiously. Putting your child first starts with putting yourself first. Get the help you need to stay healthy and give your child the start he or she deserves.
Tags: Cocaine Addiction, cocaine addiction treatment, Drug Addiction Treatment, Women and Addiction
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