Fetal Drug Exposure and Its Possible Implications for Learning in the Preschool and School-Age Population

For the past 5 years there has been an exponential increase in the use of cocaine, phenylcyclidine hydrochloride (PCP), and other central nervous system (CNS) active drugs. A significant amount of this accelerated usage is in sexually active females, resulting in some urban hospitals reporting posit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of learning disabilities 1990-03, Vol.23 (3), p.160-163
Main Authors: Van Dyke, Don C., Fox, Alison A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child, Preschool
Cocaine - adverse effects
Developmental psychology
Female
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders - psychology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Learning Disorders - chemically induced
Miscellaneous
Neurocognitive Disorders - psychology
Phencyclidine - adverse effects
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Street Drugs - adverse effects
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Summary:For the past 5 years there has been an exponential increase in the use of cocaine, phenylcyclidine hydrochloride (PCP), and other central nervous system (CNS) active drugs. A significant amount of this accelerated usage is in sexually active females, resulting in some urban hospitals reporting positive drug screens in over 16% of the infants born on their busy obstetrical service. There is a growing body of data showing that fetal exposure to cocaine, phenylcyclidine hydrochloride (PCP), and other CNS-active drugs results in infants and children with abnormal brain wave patterns, short-term neurologic signs, depression of interactive behavior, and poor organizational responses to environmental stimuli. Whether such neurologic findings will translate into a significant number of children with learning and behavioral problems needs to be the focus of long-term longitudinal studies of children with fetal drug exposure to cocaine, PCP, and other CNS-active drugs.
ISSN:0022-2194
1538-4780
DOI:10.1177/002221949002300305