Pregnancy and Street Drugs

Reviewing alcohol and drug use in pregnancy, with your health care provider, is important for you and your baby's health. It helps you and your baby if you stop or cut back at any point in your pregnancy.

Types of drugs include:

• Prescription drugs: drugs that are accessed from a Pharmacist, using a Physician's prescription.
• Over-the-counter drugs: drugs that can be accessed at a store/pharmacy without a Physician't prescription.
• Illegal drugs: drugs accessed without a prescription and labeled illegal.

Using street drugs

Illegal drugs and street drugs can be harmful for you and for your baby during pregnancy. Like alcohol, these drugs pass through the placenta to the baby and increase your risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and preterm delivery. Some people who misuse drugs also suffer from poor nutrition, poor sleep habits and are at greater risk of infections such as hepatitis and HIV. Mothers who continue using street drugs after birth are usually advised not to breastfeed because drugs will be transferred to the baby through the breastmilk.

Marijuana
A person's energy, judgment and motivation are affected by marijuana use. In pregnancy, its use can affect you and your baby, increasing the risk of premature birth, slowed fetal growth and possibly affecting your baby's growth and long-term health. Some people use marijuana to control feelings of concern to them, such as anxiety or sadness. Discuss with your health care provider available supports to assist you in making healthier choices. Also, see the tip sheet Effects of Cannabis Use.

Cocaine and methamphetamine (crystal meth)
Stimulants such as cocaine and crystal meth can be very harmful to your overall health, affecting your heart rate, energy, sleeping patterns, memory and mental health. During pregnancy, the narrowing of the blood vessels effects you and your baby, increasing the risk of premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall. Your baby may be born premature and be at greater risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Heroin
Heroin is considered an illegal opiod. Opium is one of the oldest medications known. Its main active ingredient is morphine, a very effective pain reliever. Prescription drugs in the opiod family include: morphine, codeine, pethidine, methadone, talwin and leritine. Use of any opiod product in pregnancy should be discussed with your health care provider.

Heroin can be risky to your health related to its effects on the body and associated lifestyle factors, including the use of needles to inject the drug. Opiod use in pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. If you are pregnant, it is important to slowly decrease your use as your baby could suffer withdrawal symptoms even before birth.

Methadone support is available in B.C. For more information regarding methadone support programs, please call the Alcohol & Drug Information and Referral Service at 1-800-663-1441.

Babies exposed to opiods can have withdrawal symptoms, often starting within 72 hours after birth. It is important for medical care providers to help manage your baby's symptoms and to help you care for your baby during this period. After withdrawal, follow up with community professionals helps to ensure your baby develops in the healthiest way possible while providing education and support to you.

Inhalants
Solvents (such as glue, gasoline, paint thinner and cleaning fluids) and aerosols (such as compressed gases from hairspray and spray paint cans) can be very risky for your health when inhaled. In pregnancy these drugs can affect your kidneys, blood pressure and increase the risk of miscarriage. Babies who were exposed to solvents prenatally have a smaller head, lower birth weight and kidney problems, as well as suffer from alcohol-like withdrawal as a newborn. There may be development of lasting physical, mental health and behavioural difficulties similar to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Where to get help
Motherisk is a Canadian organization that provides specific support for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Motherisk can be found online or contacted by phone. It has separate help lines for alcohol and substance use. There’s also a helpline for nausea and vomiting. For more information, visit www.motherisk.org.

There are specialized services and support available for stopping or reducing alcohol and drug use. It helps you and your baby if you stop or cut back at any point in your pregnancy. You can find help through:

• health care providers, such as street nurses and clinics
• the local health unit will have information on a pregnancy outreach program close to you
• the Alcohol & Drug Information and Referral Service, toll-free at 1-800-663-1441.