Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Profile of infants born to drug-using mothers: a state-wide audit

Mohamed E Abdel-Latif1, Julee Oei, Fiona Craig

  • 1Department of Neonatology, The Canberra Hospital, Garran, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|April 26, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Infants born to mothers using illicit drugs faced significant risks, including prematurity and low birthweight. Coordinated care is essential for these vulnerable mother-infant pairs.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal health
  • Neonatal outcomes
  • Public health

Background:

  • Illicit drug use during pregnancy poses risks to both mother and infant.
  • Understanding the characteristics and outcomes of infants exposed to drugs in utero is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of infants born to mothers using illicit drugs.
  • To determine the short-term health and hospital outcomes for these infants.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of hospital records and Drug and Alcohol Services data.
  • Inclusion of all public hospitals with obstetric services in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory in 2004.

Main Results:

  • 1.4% of confinements involved mothers using illicit drugs; opiates, amphetamines, and polydrug use were most common.
  • High rates of prematurity (23.6%), low birthweight (27.1%), and nursery admissions (51.1%) were observed.
  • Significant need for pharmacological withdrawal treatment (23.2%), with many infants discharged on medication (70.8%); 40.6% required child-at-risk notifications.

Conclusions:

  • Illicit drug use in pregnancy is prevalent, leading to adverse perinatal and hospital outcomes.
  • These infants and mothers require coordinated healthcare and resources addressing social, medical, and mental health needs.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes05:13

Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes

Published on: February 28, 2025

Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats11:01

Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats

Published on: December 14, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dependence01:17

Drug Dependence

Medications are typically administered to achieve therapeutic effects. Some drugs can modify an individual's mood and perception, frequently resulting in various enjoyable experiences. However, this can result in drug dependency, a condition marked by continuous drug use despite potential negative consequences. Drug dependency primarily falls into two categories: psychological and physical dependence. Psychological dependence occurs when the pleasurable feelings induced by the drug...
Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview01:21

Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview

When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
Drug Toxicity: Risk factors01:24

Drug Toxicity: Risk factors

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena01:15

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily...
Drug Accumulation During Multiple Dosing: Repetitive IV Injections01:21

Drug Accumulation During Multiple Dosing: Repetitive IV Injections

Calculating drug dosage and accumulation in multiple-dose regimens is crucial for achieving therapeutic efficacy while avoiding toxicity. This involves determining the plasma drug concentrations over time to optimize dosing schedules. The principle of superposition is fundamental in this process, allowing for the prediction of drug concentration in plasma following multiple doses based on single-dose data.The principle of superposition asserts that the plasma concentration-time curves from...