The Effects of maternal alcohol and drug abuse on the newborn

Abstract: A reference book for health care professionals and researchers compiles and discusses the effect of drug (particularly opiates) and alcohol abuse by expectant mothers on the developing fetus and the newborn infant. Five technical papers discuss genetic damage and immunes competence and the chronic effect of opiates during the human perinatal period, infant defects resulting from maternal use of narcotics, genetic effects in infants resulting from maternal alcoholism, and fetal alcohol effects in humans and animals. An editorial discussing damage to infants caused by mothers who choose to use drugs during pregnancy introduces the text. A literature guide to topics discussed in their book is appended. (wz).