Drug use during pregnancy

During pregnancy, all drugs, whether legal or illegal, should be avoided. The child’s natural development must be guaranteed without additional harmful substances hindering its growth. It could not be clarified so far perfectly, which are the actual consequences of Cannabis consumption in the pregnancy.

This is also due to the small number of women who could be included in scientific studies due to their use during pregnancy, which is basically a positive aspect. However, it must be assumed that the estimated number of pregnant women using cannabis is higher than the currently known figures. Even if the evidence is inconclusive, there is evidence that use favors high-risk pregnancy with complications and may cause premature birth.

It is also suspected that the birth weight of the growing child and its later speech and memory performance are reduced. Parallels have also been found between learning disabilities in children and the mother’s use of cannabis during pregnancy. Although these seem to be relatively vague statements, pregnant women are strongly discouraged from using cannabis.

The tobacco alone, which is added in most cases, is harmful to the baby. When smoking, whether with or without tobacco, toxic substances enter the bloodstream, which are by no means good for the baby. Due to the similar effect and damage profile, amphetamines and MDMA are summarized here.Also with the stimulating substances no generally valid consequential damages could be defined so far.

However, among amphetamine and MDMA users, miscarriages and premature births are more frequent, which is why a strict ban on these or similar substances is recommended. A study also found an increased rate of physical malformations, although the number of cases considered is too small to be general. The consequences of drugs are more extensive for people in adolescence than for adults.

This is also true for the use of cannabis. Especially before the age of 16, adolescents go through a developmental phase in which far-reaching changes in their body, psyche and brain take place. During this time they are particularly susceptible to disturbing influences, which can then leave a lasting effect on them.

The personality of a person is significantly shaped in adolescence. As cannabis consumption influences the brain metabolism, it also has an effect on various aspects of the psyche, such as the formation of emotions. The perception gradually flattens with frequent use and the young people run the risk of missing important points in their development.

In addition, early and long-term use increases the risk of developing a dependency or becoming dependent on other substances. There is also an increased likelihood that young people who use drugs will develop psychological problems. According to experts, the first manifestation of schizophrenia sets in much earlier when cannabis is used in adolescence.

The damaging effect of MDMA on various areas of the brain has been the subject of many scientific studies. It has been found that the cells at which MDMA acts are damaged by its use. Especially in the development of the brain, as it takes place in adolescence, optimal conditions are essential for a positive course. Thus, the very loss of volume caused by drug use can lead to developmental disorders that cannot be corrected.