Curriculum for Addiction Professionals > Competency 1: Introduction to FASD > 10. Comparative Effects of Alcohol and Other Substances on the Developing Fetus

Please Select One 1. Competency Description 2. Pretest 3. Learning Objectives 4. Historic Findings Related to Alcohol Use by Pregnant Women 5. Historic Findings Related to Alcohol Use by Pregnant Women: Twentieth Century 6. Changes in U.S. Perspectives on Alcohol Use During Pregnancy 6a. Terminology and Prevalence Rates 6b. Terminology and Prevalence Rates: Prevalence 7. Effects of Alcohol on the Developing Embryo and Fetus 8. Effects of Alcohol on the Developing Brain 8a. Specific Brain Function 9. Relationship Between Prenatal Alcohol Use and Fetal/Infant Death 10. Comparative Effects of Alcohol and Other Substances on the Developing Fetus 11. Issues Related to Professional Values and Ethics 12. Issues Related to Professional Values and Ethics: Counselor, Know Thyself 13. Matching Activity 14. Posttest 15. References

< Previous Next >

Competency 1: Introduction to FASD

Comparative Effects of Alcohol and Other Substances on the Developing Fetus

Commonly abused substances include:

• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Heroin
• Methadone
• Cocaine
• Marijuana
• Prescription drugs

Of these, alcohol produces by far the most serious neurobehavioral effects in the fetus.³⁹ The table shows various effects of different substances. Only alcohol can produce all of the noted problems. In addition, combinations of substances (e.g., alcohol and tobacco) can produce more serious effects than either substance alone. Many women use multiple substances.

	Alcohol	Tobacco	Opioids	Amphetamines	Cocaine	Marijuana	PCP
Growth deficiency	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Behavior problems	X	X	X		X	X	X
Cognitive problems	X	X	X			X	X
Motor deficits	X	X					X
Developmental delays	X				X
Facial anomalies	X						X
Physical defects	X			X	X		X

Source: Briggs, G. G., Freeman, R. K., & Yaffe, S. J. (2002). A reference guide to fetal and neonatal risk: Drugs in pregnancy and lactation. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Plessinger, M. A. (1998, March). Prenatal exposure to amphetamines: Risks of adverse outcomes in pregnancy. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, 25(1), 119-138; Fraser Askin, D., & Diehl-Jones, B. (2001). Cocaine: Effects of in utero exposure on the fetus and neonate. Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing, 14(4), 83-102.

< Previous Next >