Prenatal Drug Exposure — What Parents Need to Know

When you adopt — whether a domestic or international placement, independently or through an agency — it’s prudent to be prepared for your child to be at risk for the effects of prenatal substance abuse.

Although this might sound very frightening, research shows, in fact, that almost all children will do well in a loving, stimulating home.

Although medical professionals frequently request testing of a newborn’s urine to determine exposure to drugs, these screens have little predictive value. They reveal exposure to drugs only in the 72 hours before the test and thus give no information about exposure earlier during pregnancy.

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Prenatal exposure to drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, may have only mild short-term consequences, but the consequences may also be more long-term. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict with certainty the impact of prenatal substance abuse upon a child at the time of the child’s adoption.

Looking Out for Symptoms

Children exposed to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco prenatally may exhibit a range of symptoms. Prenatal drug and alcohol exposure increases the risk that a child will be born prior to due date and have low birth weight (less than five pounds at full term).

Many newborns exposed to illegal substances experience symptoms of withdrawal, including tremors, irritability, and difficulty sleeping. Sleep problems may include the persistence of frequent nighttime awakenings until four to six months of age.

Feeding difficulties may arise, too. Many children with prenatal drug exposure require a prolonged feeding time and may be easily distracted during feedings. These symptoms may persist through the first year of life yet show no correlation with long-term impairments.

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Adoptive and foster parents may also observe small motor coordination and balance problems or delays in language development. Although “typical” children start to discriminate between caregivers and strangers at six to 12 months of age, this too may be delayed.

Larger motor skills, including sitting, crawling, and walking, are not usually affected. Parents whose children exhibit these symptoms should not necessarily assume that the sole cause is prenatal drug exposure, as other factors may play a role.

Longer-term Considerations

Little is documented about the long-term effects of exposure to illegal substances during pregnancy. As children enter school, parents and teachers may observe that earlier delays continue, and parents may seek educational assistance for their child.

Are these children at greater risk for becoming drug abusers themselves? Again, the medical literature does not yet hold the answers. One thing is certain: There is risk of a “self-fulfilling prophecy.”

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Parents and professionals should discuss drug abuse with adolescents without suggesting that the child is more likely to abuse drugs because his or her birth parent did so. As an adolescent develops his own identity, such expectations may, in fact, increase his interest in exploring illegal substances rather than curtail the behavior. In open adoptions, adoptive parents will need to promote abstinence but not suggest criticism of the birth parents.

Maximizing Your Child’s Potential

What can parents and professionals do to maximize the potential of children exposed to illegal drugs prior to birth?

Remember that not every child will be affected in the same way, and there is no way to predict what a child’s impairments will be.

Do not assume that nothing can be done. Research shows that almost all children will do well when placed in loving and stimulating homes. Anticipation of concern will affect how a child will do long-term. Parents who proactively identify their children’s needs early on and get the help they need will find that their children thrive.

Children who show developmental delays should be referred for educational interventions through the federal Early Intervention program (for infants through the third birthday) or through local school systems (for children three and older). Programs are often available at little or no cost for children who qualify. Referrals for speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy may make sense.

Mental health professionals can help parents cope with difficult behavior in their children. Specific assistance should be given to help children develop secure attachments with caregivers.

Parents of infants with feeding, sleeping, and irritability problems may need support or respite care to prevent burnout.

Although the effects of prenatal drug exposure are different for each child, all children do better when families and professionals work together to meet the challenges.