Category Archives: Dr. Dalal Akoury

Psychological and other Effects of Cocaine Abuse

Psychological and other Effects of Cocaine Abuse: Solutions for cocaine addiction

Psychological and other Effects of Cocaine Abuse

Psychological and other Effects of Cocaine Abuse including illegality of its administration is killing the moral, social and economic fabric of our societies

The body is very much vulnerable to the use of all these addictive drugs. Like for instance, using cocaine does not only harm the body, but also the mind. These drugs impacts negatively to human health and often cause mental, emotional and psychological damage that can be very difficult to overcome. According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, the parts of the brain that cocaine directly affects are the areas that reward us, such as the areas associated with good behavior, sex, food or other healthy activities. This is why using cocaine feels so good to most people, and why it is a highly addictive drug that causes intense cravings, tolerance, dependence and ultimately addiction. That is why it is not going to be business as usual until we deal with the psychological and other effects of cocaine abuse expeditiously. Doctor Akoury says that getting into drugs is not very difficult but once in, getting out or quitting becomes very difficult. From experience doctor Akoury recommends that addicts making effort of quitting should do so with the help of an addiction medical professional instruction, and not on their own. This is so because when quitting, it comes with certain complications. The process of withdrawal can be very demanding psychologically and this may cause many people to abandon their efforts of stopping the usage of the drug altogether.

Getting someone into treatment for cocaine addiction can be a life-saving decision. In cocaine rehab, the addict can recognize their addiction for what it is: a chronic disease that requires professional treatment. The goodness of cocaine rehabs centers is that they are most effective in their undertakings especially in their residential setting. While the physical withdrawal symptoms of cocaine addiction are not life threatening and typically pass in a week or less, it is important to note that the psychological drug cravings are intense and may lead many people to relapse. Nonetheless in cocaine rehab, addicts typically have access to the following services, among others:

  • Medical monitoring and medication, as needed
  • Individual, group and family therapy
  • Twelve-Step meetings such as Cocaine Anonymous
  • Sober recreational activities
  • Education about cocaine addiction
  • Relapse prevention planning

Psychological and other Effects of Cocaine Abuse: Pharmacological treatment

While there is no medication to treat cocaine addiction directly, during the detoxification process in treatment, antidepressants are typically used to help manage the symptoms of withdrawal that usually come in the early periods of abstinence from cocaine. Therefore doctor Akoury recommends that when searching for a treatment program for yourself or a loved one, it is important that you go for the treatment programs which will address the physical, emotional, and social effects of drug use on the patient and their families. Remember that getting clean requires more than a stay in cocaine rehab it requires an ongoing commitment to protecting one’s sobriety. Along with the skills learned in treatment, finding interests outside of abusing cocaine and a supportive peer group can help addicts stay on the road to lifelong recovery.

Psychological and other Effects of Cocaine Abuse: Medication for Cocaine Addiction

While there are currently not any mainstream drugs designed specifically to treat people who are addicted to cocaine, research is routinely being performed in an effort to create medications that will help people with this problem. There are some experimental drugs that are being used to treat cocaine addiction, but these come with a certain amount of risk. The majority of them are classified as schedule 4 drugs, which means that they carry a significant risk of addiction. Common medications that are used to treat cocaine addiction include:

Baclofen – a muscle relaxant that curbs cocaine cravings and has been shown to reduce the use of the drug in abusers

Disulfiram – an anti-alcoholic agent that makes using cocaine (or alcohol) very unpleasant

Gabapentin – an anticonvulsant that makes cocaine cravings easier to deal with; it also helps to lessen the severity of relapses

Modafinil – effective in reducing cravings for cocaine, as well as reducing the cocaine high

NAC (or N-Acetylcysteine) – an animo acid that has proven to be effective in reducing the cravings for cocaine; it has also shown promising results in repairing some of the damage done to the brain in animal studies

Since there is no single medication that is designed to specifically and safely treat cocaine users, behavioral treatments are often the favored option. Often, a combination of medication and behavioral therapy is used to treat patients. Fortunately, there are a number of options available for addicted individuals, including outpatient and residential addiction treatment programs.

Psychological and other Effects of Cocaine Abuse: Addiction is a Family Disease

When a person becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol, they become the focus of attention of everyone around them. Parents want to protect their child from harm, sister or brother wants to show the addict the error of their ways, and friends and relatives go to great lengths to convince the addict that they need drug rehab treatment. With all the attention focused squarely on the addict’s needs and issues, what happens to the family? What about their needs? How can they help their loved one while also protecting themselves?

Addicts aren’t the only ones who experience the pain of addiction. It’s all of us the siblings, parents, family, and friends we all feel it. In fact families face a number of obstacles in dealing with a loved one’s addiction. Despite having the best of intentions, it is easy for family members to blame themselves, stay silent and try to fix the problem, get angry or give up. Once people adjust to living in dysfunction, it can be difficult to re-connect in a healthy way.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, 10% of the population is addicted, one in four children under the age of 18 live with an addicted parent, and for every addict four others are directly affected. Clearly, there are a lot of people out there dealing with addiction and in desperate need of support and help. But families can learn from each other. And that’s why Dr. Akoury made a decision to create a medical center whose main objective is to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. It is therefore very important that when under such difficult situations, you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury for the commencement of treatment professionally.

Psychological and other Effects of Cocaine Abuse: Solutions for cocaine addiction

 

 

 

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Treatment of Cocaine Addiction Rehab and Recovery

Treatment of Cocaine Addiction Rehab and Recovery: Get timely Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

Treatment of Cocaine Addiction Rehab and Recovery

Treatment of Cocaine Addiction Rehab and Recovery is offering solutions to many cocaine addicts across the globe

Whenever we fail to prevent any harmful substance from entering into our health systems, we are often faced with the next course of action which is seeking for treatment. This is the longest way of getting lasting solutions and it comes with its own set of complications demands and challenges. One of the reasons why Dr. Dalal Akoury the MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center experts is advocating for prevention, is because of the cost element that comes with treatment process. It is important to note that treatment of cocaine addiction rehab and recovery is not cheap and can drain all your life savings. This is because many users of cocaine and other addictive substances are never willing to admit their addiction problem and by the time this is brought to the surface for treatment, a lot of damage has taken place thereby raising the cost of treatment both in terms of time and finances. We the experts at this facility understand the magnitude involved in the administration of treatment to drug addicts. It is not anybody cup of tea. Nonetheless, we have taken the lead role in this challenge to do our very best to offer lasting solution to you and your loved ones. With that we want to encourage you that even as we get into this discussion, you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for the commencement of your addiction recovery in the most professional way.

Now to the discussion, cocaine is a highly addictive drug with the ability of producing euphoria, increased energy, strength and sociability, and a sense of control. These are some of the reasons which lure people into its misuse. This substance comes or originates from the Coca plant and has been baptized with several street names including names like coke, gold dust, flake, snow, toot and blow. And since the high of cocaine typically last for an hour or so, many users of this substance often go on cocaine “binges” taking multiple doses in a short period of time. It is no wonder it is common for many cocaine addicts to mix the drug with other substances like heroin, Valium, alcohol, marijuana and other drugs. And just like any other drugs, cocaine triggers the reward centers of the brain thereby changing the brain chemistry so that the user struggles to feel good or even normal without the drug. This feelings may even become unbearable with the introduction of other accompaniment drugs which may users prefer like we have seen in the earlier statement says doctor Akoury.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, new research shows that chronic cocaine abuse is clearly related to dysfunction in those parts of the brain involved in higher thought and decision-making. Scientists who performed the study suggest that the resulting cognitive deficits may help explain why those addicted persist in using the drug or return to it after a period of abstinence. From the information we are gathering from such studies, it is becoming very clear that treatment of cocaine addiction rehab and recovery is very important if this problem is to be eliminated completely out of our lives.

Treatment of Cocaine Addiction Rehab and Recovery: Cocaine and Crack Cocaine

There is no doubt that cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant and it continued usage is not healthy to human life. This substance comes in two chemical forms:

Hydrochloride salt cocaine: This is a form of chemical cocaine that comes in powder form and can easily be dissolved in water. This form of cocaine can be taken intravenously by the veins or intranasal in the nose.

Freebase cocaine: Freebase cocaine has not been neutralized to make the hydrochloride salt and this form of cocaine is administered through smoking.

Crack is the street name given to a freebase form of cocaine that has been processed from the powdered cocaine hydrochloride form to a smoke able substance. The term “crack” refers to the crackling sound heard when the mixture is smoked. Crack cocaine is processed with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and water, and heated to remove the hydrochloride.

Before it reaches the street, crack is typically “cut” with sugars, local anesthetics or other illicit drugs to reduce its purity. For this reason, it is difficult to know what to expect when using crack cocaine. However it is important to note that cocaine is typically dissolved and it is administered into the body by way of injection or snorted as powder, whereas crack cocaine is most commonly administered through smoking says doctor Akoury. Users report that crack cocaine produces a shorter but more intense high and is cheaper than cocaine.

Treatment of Cocaine Addiction Rehab and Recovery: Symptoms of Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine abuse can produce powerful drug cravings. In animal studies, rats work harder to get cocaine than any other drug. Probably we have mentioned this in our previous articles but for better and good treatment, the knowledge of the signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction is very important. These signs and symptoms do vary depending on the method of use and some of which may include the following:

  • Rapid heartbeat
  • High blood pressure
  • Persistent runny nose (cocaine drip)
  • Weight loss
  • Paranoia
  • Hallucinations
  • Vomiting
  • Irritability and restlessness
  • Teeth grinding
  • Cold sweats
  • Tremors and muscle jerks
  • Nasal and sinus problems (coke nose)
  • Bronchitis and chest pain
  • Feeling that bugs are crawling under the skin

Doctor Akoury says that in more serious cases, cocaine addiction can progress to cocaine psychosis (similar to paranoid schizophrenia), seizures, stroke, heart attack, coma and death. People addicted to cocaine often experience job loss, divorce, financial hardship, incarceration and other problems before realizing that they need cocaine rehab. It is also important to note that addiction of this substance normally come due to the repeated and regular use of crack which eventually leads to negative effects on the users health. Some of these negative effects can include:

These effects and medical consequences of cocaine can be life threatening, and because of the dangers presented by cocaine use, it is important to find treatment for yourself or a loved one who is battling cocaine addiction and doctor Akoury will be very helpful for you in that journey of treatment.

Treatment of Cocaine Addiction Rehab and Recovery: Get timely Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

 

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Drug addiction and the life of the baby

Drug addiction and the life of the baby: How do drugs affect my baby?

Drug addiction and the life of the baby

Drug addiction and the life of the baby. Pregnant women owes their unborn children the duty of care by keeping of substance abuse

For those pregnant women who are using drugs, there is no doubt that almost all drugs pass through the placenta to reach your baby and have some effect on them. It is important to note that drugs in your body will definitely reduce the amount of oxygen that can reach your baby. Early in pregnancy, some drugs may affect your baby’s development and as a result your baby may not grow as well as is expected in your uterus (womb). We all understand the significance of drug addiction and the life of the baby. This is not something that can be wished a way by all means. Talking to doctor Dalal Akoury we have realized that taking illegal drugs will cause problems later in your pregnancy, and as a matter of fact the use of such drugs can affect how well the placenta works. With the presence of drugs in the system, there is a risk that the placenta may come away from the side of your uterus, sometimes causing severe bleeding a process known as placental abruption. Placental abruption is a serious condition and, because of the bleeding it causes, it can be life-threatening for you and your baby. Your baby may have withdrawal symptoms if you were taking drugs regularly during your pregnancy which may necessitate that the baby stay in hospital for a while so that nurses and doctors can check him or her for signs of withdrawal and give the right treatment.

Drug addiction and the life of the baby: What if I took drugs before finding out I was pregnant?

The common concern for many women is that what happens to them and their unborn children if they were taking drugs before becoming pregnant! It is actually true that many people take drugs as part of their social life. Besides if you took a drug without realizing you were pregnant on a one-off occasion, then you don’t have to worry because it’s very unlikely that it will have any effect on your baby. However, if illegal drugs are part of your life and as a result of that you have become an addict, it will be very important that you seek for help immediately to improve the outlook for you and your baby says doctor Akoury.

Drug addiction and the life of the baby: Which drugs have which effects?

Besides the various questions that often cross many people’s minds, there are certain known facts about the effects of illegal drugs and such facts may include the following:

Cannabis (marijuana) – Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug. Taking cannabis during pregnancy might make your baby unsettled and more easily startled after he is born. In the longer term, it could cause behavior and learning problems for your baby as he grows older. Remember that smoking cannabis also exposes your baby to the risks related to smoking. If you smoke, you are more likely to go into premature labour. There’s also a higher chance that your baby will be born with a low birth weight and other complications, and it increases the risk of cot death.

Speed (amphetamines) and crystal meth (methamphetamine)For the benefit of your unborn child, it would be very proper for you to stop taking speed or crystal meth before you get pregnant or during and after pregnancy. If you have been using these drugs, you can still quit even when you are pregnant, but to be safe and this is very important, you should stop taking these drugs with medical help in a drug treatment program. This is so because stopping suddenly could be harmful for you and to your baby as well and could even cause miscarriage. Remember that taking speed or crystal meth can make the following more likely:

  • A complication where the placenta can’t carry enough oxygen and nutrients to your baby, called placental insufficiency
  • The placenta separating from your uterus (placental abruption)

These drugs can affect your baby’s growth in the uterus, making her smaller than expected for your stage of pregnancy and increasing the chance of premature birth.

EcstasyDoctor Akoury says that there’s a lot of concern about the long-term side-effects of taking ecstasy. Nonetheless more needs to be done to ascertain any effect it may have on your pregnancy or your baby. At the moment, there is very little evidence that this can cause any significant effect to either the mother or the baby. But all the same ecstasy may have an effect on your baby’s motor development (co-ordination and movement). But then again there is limited evidence that it could cause birth defects and a lot more research needs to be done to establish that.

Cocaine and crack cocaineTaking cocaine or crack during pregnancy may increase your risk of having a miscarriage and of placental abruption later in pregnancy. Using cocaine while you are pregnant can slow down your baby’s growth in the uterus. It may also increase the risk of your baby having problems with learning and behavior when he is older.

Heroin and strong painkillersHeroin has serious risks for your baby. The same kind of problems can happen if you are regularly using related painkillers (opioids) like morphine or Tramadol during pregnancy. You may not realize that you can become addicted to strong painkillers. But if you use heroin or other opioids, it is vital to get treatment as soon as it is practically possible. Trying to quit on your own could be dangerous for you and your baby. It could cause a miscarriage or premature birth, or your baby could be stillborn. The safest way to quit is with medical help, as part of a drug treatment program. And remember that during pregnancy, heroin and other opioids can slow down your baby’s growth and have an effect on how her brain grows. These drugs can also make it harder for your baby to breathe just after she is born.

One of the most serious problems for your baby is withdrawal symptoms when she is born. Your baby will need special care in hospital if she has withdrawal symptoms. As she grows older, your child may have behavioral problems. Experts are yet to establish the effects about growth and intelligence but there are indications that these may also cause some effects both for you and the baby. Finally your life and that of your baby are priceless. You may be finding it difficult to face your addiction problem and so you hide and suffer in silence. This will not help, doctor Akoury founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center with you in mind. We have a team of experienced professionals waiting to help you face this giant before you. All you need to do on your part is to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury and you will never regret making this decision.

Drug addiction and the life of the baby: How do drugs affect my baby?

 

 

 

 

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Using Illegal and addictive drugs in pregnancy

Using illegal and addictive drugs in pregnancy: The possible dangers posed on both the mother and the baby

Using illegal and addictive drugs in pregnancy

Using illegal and addictive drugs in pregnancy is one of the most painful thing you can do to your unborn child

The problem of drug addiction in the current generation is one that is very merciless and cruel even to the unborn children. A lot of our young ladies are very much into drugs and when the time came for them to have the fruit of the womb, their body is full of toxic substances which are very unfriendly to the baby. It is not just the previous use of these substances but even the current usage. Over the years we have attended to pregnant women who are heavily addicted to drugs and the good news is that when there is willingness to recover, a lot of damage can be prevented and those that had already occurred could also be corrected. In view of the prevalence of miss use of drugs, we want to take time in this article to discuss certain points about using illegal and addictive drugs in pregnancy. To do this, we are going to relay on the expertise of professionals from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury the MD and also the founder of the said facility.

In her care (doctor Akoury) many victims of substance abuse have regain their life back and narrowly escaped the hook of death all in the name of abusing drugs. For more than two decades now doctor Akoury and her team of experts have established a very strong network of creating awareness about drug addiction and alcohol abuse to contribute in the fight against the vice. It will interest you to note that doctor Akoury is offering her exclusive NER Recovery Treatment to other physicians and health care professionals through training, clinical apprenticeships, webinars and seminars. And the good news is that these services are available for all professionals and in fact any qualified professional can now be a part of this truly successful and fast addiction recovery treatment. At the moment doctor Akoury is organizing for a conference for all medical professionals especially those in the discipline of addiction this coming August to run between 23-25 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and you are invited to be part of this great transformation in the understanding of addiction treatment.

The conference (Integrative Addiction Conference 2015) mission is to provide prevention education, awareness, options and support to patients and physicians dealing with addiction. We intend to use this conference to empower physicians to be involved in determining their personal and “best answer for addiction” by promoting physician and patient awareness of a natural, yet profoundly effective, addiction treatment options that result in you thriving while surviving during treatment and recovery. This Integrative Addiction Conference 2015 will cover topics such as addiction as a holistic body ecosystem derangement, the interaction between stress, survivorship, pain and addiction, the role of hormonal imbalance in the disease of addiction, the genetic and epigenetic influences on the disease of addiction, psycho neuroendocrine immune restoration essential to reverse addiction as well as new and future therapies in the horizon for addiction treatment including stem therapy for psycho neuroendocrine immune restoration.

From the briefing you can see that we have a very rich menu to improve your career to greater levels. We can only encourage you not to let this golden opportunity and for more information about the conference you may log in via the event website www.integrativeaddiction2015.com or drop us a email using the following address sharon@integrativeaddiction2015.com. There is some body from the other end who will respond to all your registration queries. And now back to using illegal and addictive drugs in pregnancy, if you are using illegal or street drugs, it can make you feel isolated. If this describes you, it is important to note that you are not alone. Illegal drugs are commonly used than you can imagine. It is estimated that about one in five young adults aged between 16 and 24 has used either of the drugs in the past year.

Therefore we are going to use this article to explain how different drugs can affect your pregnancy and your baby. Doctor Akoury in her spirit of creating awareness explains that the more facts you know the better for you since with such information, you will be in a better position to make well informed and positive choices going forward. And if stopping drugs is a problem for you, getting help is a big step towards giving your baby a healthy future. It will be very important for you if you are struggling with drugs to consult with your doctor or midwife to help you get treatment and other necessary support in good time. Like for instance you may need support from a health professional with extra experience in looking after pregnant women who use drugs. Such women may have certain concerns and difficult health questions that can only be addressed by professionals in that line. Some of the questions may include:

Using Illegal and addictive drugs in pregnancy: Is it safe to take illegal drugs while I’m pregnant?

When one is pregnant and is abusing drugs, such a person is subjecting two people into great danger. Her own and the life of the unborn baby therefore it goes without saying that any illegal substance is not good for your health whether in pregnancy or not. It doesn’t matter the quantity used, no amount of illegal substance can be said to be safe. It therefore means that if a parent has drug problems it affects their child at every stage, from pregnancy onwards. With that piece of information, if you are pregnant and you are also on drugs, this is the time for you to make a conscious decision to change, quit and give your baby a good start in life. This is very important and as a good mother you are you will do the right thing which is scheduling for an appointment with the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center for the commencement of treatment immediately.

Using illegal and addictive drugs in pregnancy: The possible dangers posed on both the mother and the baby

 

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How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women: Various health complications of Heroin abuse?

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women is a worthy concern for all mothers and the family as a whole. Both the life of the mother and the unborn child will be at risk if treatment of heroin addiction is not done in good time

Heroin abuse can cause serious complications during pregnancy, including miscarriage and premature delivery. Children born to addicted mothers are at greater risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), as well. Pregnant women should not be detoxified from opiates because of the increased risk of spontaneous abortion or premature delivery; rather, treatment with methadone is strongly advised. Although infants born to mothers taking prescribed methadone may show signs of physical dependence, they can be treated easily and safely in the nursery. Research has demonstrated also that the effects of in utero exposure to methadone are relatively benign.

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women: Pregnant & Using Heroin?

When we are struggling with drug addiction as adults we often find it to be very difficult to deal with. We first refuse to acknowledge that we have a problem with drugs and in the process our health deteriorates rapidly. Is there anything that can be done to remedy the situation? Certainly yes says doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. The concern of many is the health complications that are associated with substance abuse. The problem is further complicated if the victim is a pregnant woman. When we are talking about pregnant women the whole situation changes because the effect is now not just on the adult but also to the unborn baby begging the question “how does heroin abuse affect pregnant women?” this is what we want to unlock in this even as we progress into this discussion.

There is no doubt that if you are pregnant and using heroin it is fundamentally crucial that you need to be under a doctor’s care. If you are already seeing a doctor for prenatal treatment, it is not just enough to see him but it is important that you be honest and informs your doctor that you are using heroin quantity doesn’t matter the doctor needs to know if he is to help you and your unborn child get better. Remember that your case needs special medical attention and holding any information may not serve you well in this case. You may be in denial but the truth of the matter is that if you’re using heroin during pregnancy, you baby is also using the same. This is because your baby depends on you for everything food, breathing and any other needs of life while in the womb.

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women: Effects of heroin on the unborn child?

Heroin slows the growth of your child both during and after pregnancy. As painful as it may be if you do not get medical care in good time, it is four times more likely that your baby will die during your pregnancy or shortly after being born. This is because the baby will be too small to survive thanks to heroin abuse. Doctor Akoury explains that babies born of heroin addicts weigh about one-fourth less than average infants resulting in premature delivery in many cases. It is equally important to note that even a year after birth, most babies of mothers who used heroin while pregnant will still be much smaller than average, and have smaller heads. The complications are further worsened if you fail to get treatment for your addiction. What will happen is that, there’s a good chance that your baby will experience heroin withdrawal, which can cause them to suffer pains for months. Therefore if you are pregnant and using heroin, you need to get help now. This is not something that you can take care of on your own. Talk to the experts AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center and get the professionalism in this life threatening situation.

In an effort of trying to get solution, careful attention should be taken so that you do not add more problems than you already have. Like for instance if you try to go “cold turkey” and quit drugs too quickly, you can cause the death of your baby abruptly. Experts believe that this occurs because the baby suddenly becomes hyperactive, then oxygen deprived. For this reason, doctors usually withdraw mothers from heroin after the baby is born or very gradually during pregnancy and on very close supervision, and sometimes this is done by using a replacement drug like methadone. Besides the effects it has on the baby your heroin use puts you too at risk for some serious health conditions. For example, you have a 50 percent chance of developing heart disease, anemia, diabetes, pneumonia, and hepatitis during your pregnancy. These are much higher odds than the average mother faces.

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women: How does Heroin Abuse affect Pregnant Women?

As is the case with every person who uses heroin, pregnant women who expose themselves and their children to this drug run the risk of developing a wide range of health complications with the greatest one being death. Accidental overdose can cause the death of the mother and can also result in spontaneous abortion of the fetus, and can lead to infant death shortly after birth but even if no fatalities occur, the results of heroin use during pregnancy can still be devastating:

Like everything a pregnant woman ingests, heroin can cross the placenta meaning that their babies can develop a dependence on the drug before they are even born. According to the American Pregnancy Association, heroin use during pregnancy can lead to the following conditions in the baby:

  • Premature birth or low birth weight
  • Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
  • Bleeding in the brain
  • Impaired ability to breathe

Compared with a host of other risks, “low birth weight” may sound like a relatively innocuous effect but being born at less than 5 lbs., 8 oz., has been associated with myriad health problems, including heart failure, intestinal damage, and blindness. Various studies have linked low birth weight with an increased likelihood of developing certain health problems including hypertension, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Women who use heroin while pregnant are also more likely than sober women to experience poor nutrition and inadequate prenatal care both of which put mother and child at a decided disadvantage. Effects including impaired immune function, delayed cognitive development, behavior disorders, and stillbirth have all been associated with substandard nutrition, while neglecting proper prenatal care can allow relatively manageable conditions to progress into more substantial threats to both mother and child. Finally experts are working round the clock to develop safer and more effective means of treating heroin addiction in pregnant women and you can get more information about the best treatment options available for you by scheduling for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today.

How does heroin abuse affect pregnant women: Various health complications of Heroin abuse?

 

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