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Amphetamines, the pregnant woman and her children: a review

Journal of Perinatology volume 32, pages 737–747 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

The objective of this study is to review and summarize available evidence regarding the impact of amphetamines on pregnancy, the newborn infant and the child. Amphetamines are neurostimulants and neurotoxins that are some of the most widely abused illicit drugs in the world. Users are at high risk of psychiatric co-morbidities, and evidence suggests that perinatal amphetamine exposure is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes, but data is confounded by other adverse factors associated with drug-dependency. Data sources are Government data, published articles, conference abstracts and book chapters. The global incidence of perinatal amphetamine exposure is most likely severely underestimated but acknowledged to be increasing rapidly, whereas exposure to other drugs, for example, heroin, is decreasing. Mothers known to be using amphetamines are at high risk of psychiatric co-morbidity and poorer obstetric outcomes, but their infants may escape detection, because the signs of withdrawal are usually less pronounced than opiate-exposed infants. There is little evidence of amphetamine-induced neurotoxicity and long-term neurodevelopmental impact, as data is scarce and difficult to extricate from the influence of other factors associated with children living in households where one or more parent uses drugs in terms of poverty and neglect. Perinatal amphetamine-exposure is an increasing worldwide concern, but robust research, especially for childhood outcomes, remains scarce. We suggest that exposed children may be at risk of ongoing developmental and behavioral impediment, and recommend that efforts be made to improve early detection of perinatal exposure and to increase provision of early-intervention services for affected children and their families.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Newborn Care, Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, NSW, Australia

    J L Oei

  2. School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia

    J L Oei

  3. Mater Miseriacordiae Health Service Brisbane Ltd., Mater Mothers’ Hospital, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    A Kingsbury

  4. Department of Neonatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia

    A Dhawan

  5. National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW, Australia

    L Burns

  6. The Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia

    J M Feller

  7. The Langton Centre, Surry Hills, NSW, Australia

    S Clews & J Falconer

  8. Department of Neonatology, The Canberra Hospital, Garran, ACT, Australia

    M E Abdel-Latif

  9. School of Clinical Medicine, Australian National University, ACT, Australia

    M E Abdel-Latif

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  1. J L Oei
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  2. A Kingsbury
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  3. A Dhawan
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  4. L Burns
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Correspondence to J L Oei.

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JL OEI developed concept for article, prepared manuscript for submission. A Kingsbury, L Burns, J Feller, S Clews, J Falconer and M Abdel-Latif reviewed and revised the manuscript, and approved the final version for publication. A Dhawan assisted with the drafting of the manuscript.

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Oei, J., Kingsbury, A., Dhawan, A. et al. Amphetamines, the pregnant woman and her children: a review. J Perinatol 32, 737–747 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.59

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