[Fetal defects caused by the passive consumption of drugs]

The neuroactive drugs taken by pregnant women have two principals side effects: a teratogenic effects and a postnatal withdrawal effect. Three are the characteristic syndromes: the hydantoin-barbiturate syndrome, the trimethadione-paramethadione syndrome, the fetal alcohol syndrome. The prenatal exposure to heroine and to morphine interfere mainly with the cerebral development. Drug addiction, like postnatale withdrawal syndrome, are mainly due to passive exposure to drug narcotic (heroine, methadone), to sedative-hypnotic agents (barbiturates Diazepam Chlordiazepoxide) and to alcohol. The cigarette smoke is responsible for third group of side effects, namely for the reduced fetal growth and for the premature labor. No side effects on the human fetus were observed due to abuse of coffee or to use of marihuana during pregnancy.