Research has shown that both prenatal alcohol and tobacco exposure are
associated with increased risk of significant adverse medical,
developmental, and behavioral outcomes including substance abuse. Research
on the outcomes of prenatal exposure to illicit drugs (PNDE) has also
found increased physical and behavioral problems for gestationally
drug-exposed children. However, a clear picture has not emerged on whether
the consequences of PNDE are independent from those associated with having
a substance abusing parent and whether PNDE increases vulnerability to
drug abuse. Because of its typical co-occurrence with factors inherent in
having a drug-abusing parent, PNDE is at least a marker of significant
increased risk for a range of negative outcomes including greater
vulnerability to substance abuse. Although a review of the relevant
research literatures indicates that the direct consequences of PNDE appear
to be generally both subtle and nonglobal, PNDE does appear to have
negative developmental and behavioral outcomes, and there is evidence that
it is a modest direct contributor to increased substance abuse
vulnerability.The viewpoints expressed in
this article do not necessarily represent the National Institutes of
Health or the Department of Health and Human Services. The authors thank
Vincent Smeriglio for the information and suggestions he provided. The
views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent his
views.