What Is the Longer-Term Prognosis for Someone Addicted to Methamphetamine?
Question by Laura A: What is the longer-term prognosis for someone addicted to methamphetamine?
I recently found out my very best friend was born addicted to crystal meth, and I *know* that causes a lot of developmental delays and health problems. What I’m wondering is if anyone knows what a general long-term prognosis for someone born addicted to meth would be? I.E. what would be a general guideline of any health issues or problems that could arise for a former meth baby from ages 18 to 24, if any?
Thanks!
Best answer:
Answer by Kalkail
From MAMA:
And indeed that is what the studies demonstrate. When methamphetamine exposed children are studied at age eight to ten, the cavitary lesions and ventricular dilation are no longer seen (Smith 2001) . All of the children in this study had been exposed to methamphetamine with very low levels of exposure to other drugs of abuse, including alcohol. Children with developmental delay, impaired growth, seizure disorders or ADHD were excluded. Only those children who looked perfectly normal were studied. There are no scientific studies to indicate what percentage of methamphetamine exposed children have developmental delays, learning disabilities or ADHD.
In a follow-up study by the same group, again excluding children with developmental delays or ADHD, significant changes were seen in the deeper areas of the brain the have to do with information processing, memory, and hand eye coordination. These areas were 17-26% smaller than in unexposed children of the same age. These children also scored lower on measures of visual-motor integration (hand – eye coordination), attention, verbal memory and long term spatial memory. Again, these were children who had not been identified as having a developmental delay or ADHD by teachers or caregivers. These children looked perfectly normal and were in performing normally in school, but they were challenged by the effects of their prenatal methamphetamine exposure.
Long term follow-up of methamphetamine exposed children over a period of up to fifteen years shows the impact of these challenges. Children exposed to methamphetamine who received no special intervention and were not screened or treated for learning disabilities demonstrated increased aggressive behavior and poor adjustment at eight to ten years old (Billings 1994). The same children followed up to fifteen years of age (Cernerud 1996 and Eriksson 2000) showed higher rates of academic failure and poor social adjustment. These methamphetamine exposed children were three times more likely to be behind in school (15% were one year or more behind) and had lower grades than non-exposed peers.
Billings L et al 1994 The influence of environmental factors on behavioral problems in eight year old children exposed to amphetamine during fetal life. Child Abuse and Neglect 15:3-9
Cernarud L et al 1996 Amphetamine addiction during pregnancy: 14 year follow-up of growth and school performance. Acta Pediatr 85:204-8
Chang L et al 2004 Smaller subcortical volumes and cognitive deficits in children with prenatal methamphetamine exposure. Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging 132:95-106
Dixon SD, Bejar R 1989 Echoencephalographic findings in neonates associated with maternal cocaine and methamphetamine use: incidence and clinical correlates. J of Pediatrics 115:770-8
Erickson M 2000 Amphetamine abuse during pregnancy: Environmental factors and outcome after 14-15 years. Scan J Public Health 28:154-157.
Smith L M et al 2001 Brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children exposed to methamphetamine in utero. Neurology 57:255-60.
Smith L et al 2003 Effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure on fetal growth and drug withdrawal symptoms in infants born at term. J Dev Behav Pediatr 24:17-23
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