Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 1, 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

Three-year outcome of children exposed prenatally to drugs

D R Griffith1, S D Azuma, I J Chasnoff

  • 1National Association for Perinatal Addiction Research and Education, Chicago, IL 60611.

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|January 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal substance exposure impacts child development, with cocaine linked to lower verbal reasoning and marijuana to poorer visual reasoning at age 3. Not all exposed children face poor outcomes, necessitating further research on environmental factors.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Neuroscience
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Prenatal exposure to maternal substances of abuse is a significant concern.
  • Understanding the long-term behavioral and developmental effects is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the 3-year behavioral and developmental outcomes of children with prenatal exposure to maternal substances of abuse.
  • To identify specific substance effects and predictive factors.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal prospective study evaluated 93 cocaine-exposed, 24 polydrug/noncocaine-exposed, and 25 nonexposed children at 3 years.
  • Assessments included the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (SBIS) and Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist.
  • Medical evaluations and caregiver ratings were also collected.

Main Results:

  • Exposed groups showed differences in head circumference compared to nonexposed.
  • Cocaine exposure predicted lower SBIS Verbal Reasoning scores.
  • Marijuana exposure predicted lower SBIS Abstract/Visual Reasoning scores.
  • Caregivers reported higher aggression in exposed children.

Conclusions:

  • Generalizations about poor outcomes for all substance-exposed children are not supported by this study.
  • Individual outcomes vary, influenced by maternal and environmental factors.
  • Further research is needed on diverse populations and settings.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Construction of Vapor Chambers Used to Expose Mice to Alcohol During the Equivalent of all Three Trimesters of Human Development15:27

Construction of Vapor Chambers Used to Expose Mice to Alcohol During the Equivalent of all Three Trimesters of Human Development

Published on: July 13, 2014

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

Related Concept Videos

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...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Drug Elimination: Overview01:18

Drug Elimination: Overview

Drug elimination involves many complex processes and does not necessarily differentiate between distribution and elimination. It is divided into two primary components: excretion and biotransformation.
Excretion refers to removing a drug from the body, either in its unchanged form or as its metabolites. Nonvolatile and polar drugs are primarily excreted through the kidneys, with other pathways including bile, sweat, saliva, and milk. Volatile drugs such as anesthetic gases are excreted via the...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
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...