Effects on pregnancy

Inadequate maternal weight gain
Extremely high blood pressure and stroke
Maternal death
Abruptio placenta (placenta or “afterbirth” separates before birth) this causes bleeding that can result in death for mother and baby
Inadequate fetal weight gain
Extremely active fetus
Fetal death

Effects on infant / child

Methamphetamine taken by pregnant women is more likely to produce a toxic effect on the fetus than any other illicit drug
Meth is poisonous to the baby’s / child’s brain cells, both before and after birth!

0-1 month
May sleep all the time
May not wake up for feedings
Poor suck and swallow coordination
Difficulty adjusting to bright lights and noises

1-4 months
Cries all the time
Can’t get baby to quit crying
Over-stimulates very easily
Dislikes touch
Tremors, stiff muscles, difficulty learning to move hand to mouth
Has trouble adjusting to different textures

6-18 months
Subtle changes that may not be picked up
Resistance to new foods (textures)
Speech delays

18 months – 5 years
Behavior problems
Anger management problems
Aggressive outbursts
Attention problems
Texture and touch defensiveness

Phases of use

• Introductory phase

(Responsibilities of work and school have not yet been affected)
Mood elevation, euphoria, excitation
Appetite suppression
Conversation comes easily
Feel energized, faster, stronger

• Maintenance phase

(Tolerance increases. Family relationships, work, school, finances begin to be affected)
Increase in meth use to recapture the initial experience & avoid depression
Thoughts center increasingly around meth use
Weight loss
Decreased nutrition

• Disenchantment phase

(Negative effects of drug use take hold. Triggers for drug use become all-encompassing)
Thoughts continually revolve around drug use
Dramatic increase in meth use (cravings)
Mistrust of people
Heightened sensitivity to sound
Agitation, short-tempered
Aggression, violence

• Disaster phase

(Triggers for drug use are overpowering. Families, homes, and communities are devastated)
Extreme weight loss
Paranoia
Seizures
Severe depression
Unemployment, bankruptcy
Stroke, death