Increased cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript cord blood levels in the newborns exposed to crack cocaine in utero

Abstract

The increase in CART levels in EN UBC suggests a response to crack/cocaine-induced oxidative stress during gestational period, as a potential attempt of neuroprotection. In adult women in puerperium, however, this endogenous antioxidant recruitment does not seem to operate.

Crack and motor development of babies living in an assistance shelter

“…Drug use during pregnancy can bring consequences to babies. Recent studies show babies with smaller than normal head circumference, lower birth weight, premature birth, congenital malformations, and future problems such as neurobehavioral problems in childhood and adolescence [6][7][8] .…”

“…The Childhood and Youth Report 12 stated that approximately 29 thousand children and adolescents were in institutional care in Brazil, mainly due to parents/guardians being chemical/alcohol dependent (81%) and negligent (81%). Several studies have shown results of alterations in children whose mothers have used drugs during pregnancy [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] , because the drug metabolism is delayed due to the decreased expression of plasma and liver cholinesterases 13 , alterations such as: placental abruption, congenital malformation, premature birth, low birth weight, smaller head circumference, among other alterations [14][15][16] . In older children and teenagers, the most commonly found problems are behavioral and cognitive 17 .…”