Has anyone on the list had any experience with this problem yet?
Helen
http://au.news.yahoo.com//061019/2/10z5n.html
Friday January 12, 04:13 PM
Mums who take ice 'killing unborn kids'
Mothers addicted to the drug ice are killing their unborn children
in a plague worse than the cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, a doctor has warned.
Dr Ross Wilson, a former GP of the year, said the number of unborn
babies affected by ice was most notable in the suburbs of western Sydney where
the drug had replaced heroin.
"One doctor told me ice is the worst drug he has seen as far as
infant mortality is concerned, it's worse than crack cocaine," Dr Wilson said.
His comments come as the nation's peak indigenous childcare body
moved to address the antenatal impact of ice.
The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care
executive officer is Julian Pocock.
Mr Pocock says children who survived birth despite their mothers
using ice were being misdiagnosed as suffering Attention Deficit Hyperactive
Disorder.
"Some weak and easy diagnoses were being made," Mr Pocock said.
The secretariat has made addressing the impact of ice on Indigenous
children it's number one priority this year.
While Mr Pocock said there was not yet quantitative evidence of
ice's impact, Dr Wilson said anecdotes from many doctors in western Sydney
painted a grim picture.
"If the ice use is frequent in the first 16 weeks of the pregnancy
you are going to see quite significant malformations," Dr Wilson said.
Along with malformations, Dr Wilson said, there were stories of
placental abruption - where the placenta separates from the foetus - leaving
babies stillborn.
"And if the baby is born, ice addiction remarkably reduces the size
of the baby."
The problems of foetal ice syndrome are being compared to the
well-known symptoms of foetal alcohol syndrome.
But Dr Wilson said the problem was much worse because it was now so
widespread and harmful that doctors were urging drug addicted mothers to use
any drug but ice.
"Doctors are now pleading with mothers to use methadone because it
is less harmful to the baby."
Ice or crystal methamphetamine has become the drug of choice across
wide sections of the illegal drug community in recent years - replacing heroin
and even ecstasy as the high of choice.
Print Me Now! - Back to Original Article
aap.gif
Description: GIF image
