Understanding the Impact of Drugs on Children Jackie McReynolds Washington State University
Not all drug users are addicts... Addiction develops through several well-identified phases: No use at all (abstinence) Experimentation Social/recreational use Habituation (negative consequences develop) Abuse (continue even with negative outcomes) Addiction (tolerance, withdrawal)
Physical Dependence Depends Upon... The drug being used The amount and purity of drug taken (potency and efficacy) The preferred route of administration The effects of poly-drug use How often and how long drug is used The age, sex, health, and genetic makeup of the user
Addiction Cycle
Drug Cocaine Heroin Methamphetamine DEA Classification A Fast Facts Comparison Schedule II, high potential for abuse and addiction, has a medical use Schedule I, high potential for abuse w/no medical use Schedule II, high potential for abuse and addiction, has a medical use What is it? Addictive stimulant (plant-based) Addictive narcotic (plant-based opiate), depressant Highly addictive stimulant (synthetic) What form does it take? Powdered and crack (boiled in ammonia & baking soda) Powdered or black tar form Powdered or crystallized form Common risks associated with use? Cardiac arrest, seizure, respiratory problems, paranoia, aggression Overdose, addiction, hepatitis B and C, liver & kidney disease Cardiac arrest, stroke, weight loss, sleep problems, paranoia, aggression How is it used? Smoked, snorted or ingested Injected, snorted, or smoked Ingested, smoked, injected
The Drug Effect Cocaine Heroin Meth Energy, alertness, elevated mood Drowsiness, relaxed state, slowed heart rate, trancelike state Energy, weight loss, sexual arousal, social nature Irritability, paranoia, restlessness, anxiety Nausea, vomiting, itching, drowsiness Depression, paranoia, aggression, tooth decay, infected sores Dilated pupils, high energy level, euphoria, exuberant speech patterns Constricted pupils, flushed appearance, heaviness of the arms and legs Dilated pupils, chatty, high energy level, short-term memory loss
Physiological Impact Cocaine Heroin Meth Increases heart rate and blood pressure; constricts blood vessels; damages nose and sinuses; irritates lungs; ulcers and stomach perforations; kidney damage; impaired sexual function Central nervous system depressant, calmness, slowed breathing and irregular heart beat, drowsiness, slowed brain function, body temp drops Increases heart rate and blood pressure, constricts blood vessels; slows digestion; raises body temp; early enhanced sexual arousal Withdrawal: depression, fatigue, aches, pains, tremors, and chills Withdrawal: gooseflesh, runny nose, painful joints, diarrhea, vomiting Withdrawal: depression, fatigue, craving, memory loss
Cocaine
Heroin
Methamphetamine
What About Marijuana? Classified as an hallucinogen and Schedule I drug by the DEA. It is a plant-based substance that can alter human perception and mood. Effects commonly include elevated heart rate, dilated pupils, decreased blood pressure, increased appetite, difficulty with problem solving, coordination, and memory.
Marijuana
Marijuana
Alcohol Consumption
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Low weight and height Poor coordination Hyperactive behavior Difficulty with attention Poor memory Speech delays Lower IQ Poor reasoning skills Vision/hearing issues Sleep problems Problems learning math Problems with heart, kidneys, or bones
Effects of Smoking When used during pregnancy, linked to low birth weight and pregnancy complications such as prematurity, placental abruption, intrauterine death, and SIDS. Fetus is deprived of oxygen and important nutrients that are necessary for growth. Infants show more signs of stress, greater muscle tension, are more excitable with selfregulation issues, along with lower IQs and ADD.
Physiological Effects of Nicotine
Prenatal Impact: Tobacco
Another stimulant: Caffeine!
Prenatal Drug Exposure Damage to the CNS will have lifelong effects and CNS damage may result in behavioral impairment rather than physical defects. Cocaine: prematurity; decreased size; cognitive delays; disruptive behaviors Heroin: stillbirth; small size; prematurity; SIDS; anxiety; aggression; disruptive behavior; ADHD Methamphetamine: small size; feeding problems; lethargy; physiological stress; behavior issues Marijuana: no growth effects or abnormalities; delayed regulation; memory issues
General Interventions for Drug-Exposed Children Intensive home-based services for substance-abusing mothers Mental health screening parent training support for abstinence Early intervention case management for child Speech and language, occupational, and behavioral therapy ongoing cognitive and behavioral assessment
Conclusion Substance use can effect the developing fetus through direct exposure and through poor maternal health habits and environmental conditions. Some negative effects will persist through adolescence. Each child must be individually assessed for cumulative risk factors, domain of developmental difficulty, and quality of the care-giving environment.
Resources Children of Alcoholic Families www.coaf.org National Institute on Drug Abuse nida.nih.gov Drug Enforcement Agency, www.dea.gov Narcotics Anonymous, www.na.org Serenity Lane www.serenitylane.org SAMHSA: Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center: SAMHSA.gov Native American Youth and Family Center, www.nayapdx.org Northwest Behavioral Health Care, www.northwestbhs.com Union Gospel Mission, www.ugmportland.org/lifechange.html Lifeline Connections, www.lifelineconections.org
Presenter Contact Info Jackie McReynolds Senior Instructor Dept. of Human Development Washington State University 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave. Vancouver, WA 98686 360-546-9740 mcreynol@wsu.edu