Research suggests that hundreds of thousands of pregnancies are exposed to cocaine annually. The use of crack cocaine and pregnancy is a significant issue, mainly because of the risks to the developing fetus.
Women are often reluctant to get help for cocaine addiction, or any other addiction for that matter, for fear of social stigma. Those who already have children fear that reporting or getting help could cause them to lose custody of their children.
It’s important to understand that the connection between crack cocaine and pregnancy can be dangerous. If you want to learn how to get help for crack addiction at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston, whether you are pregnant, call 866.516.8356 today.
General Effects of Cocaine Use
Cocaine (also called coke and blow) is a street drug that looks like a white powder. It can be snorted or mixed into water and injected into the veins. Sometimes, the drug appears as small rocks. This form is called crack cocaine, and many users smoke it this way.
Cocaine causes many harmful effects on the user. It acts on the brain and central nervous system, affecting how you see, hear, and touch things. As a result, you may feel scared (anxious/panicked), angry, or restless.
Other effects of cocaine use include:
- Stomach pains, nausea, and vomiting
- Body shakes/tremors
- Loss of appetite and severe weight loss
- Loss of sense of smell, especially when snorted
- Respiratory failure
- Heart attacks or strokes
In addition, sharing needles or injecting apparatus can lead to many other infections like hepatitis or HIV. Furthermore, if that user is also pregnant, it can seriously harm the unborn baby.
Dangers of Crack Cocaine and Pregnancy
Crack cocaine and pregnancy do not go together. Maternal crack addiction can lead to many severe outcomes, including:
- Maternal migraines and seizing fits
- Premature rupture of membranes
- Placental abruption/separation of the placenta from uterus lining before delivery
- Hypertension
- Spontaneous miscarriages and preterm labor
- Prolonged labor/difficult delivery
In addition, regular cardiovascular changes can occur in pregnancy, and cocaine addiction can exacerbate them. These conditions can lead to hypertension and preeclampsia, which is life-threatening for both mother and baby.
Experts have not extensively studied the risks of crack cocaine and pregnancy to the fetus. There are many other factors, like concurrent abuse of other drugs, lack of prenatal care, or other health conditions that can lead to these conditions.
However, babies born to cocaine-addicted mothers are shorter and have lower birth weight and smaller heads than other babies, and they arrive preterm. While studies are in infancy, maternal crack cocaine use can lead to significant behavior deficits, like difficulty with self-control and inability to focus/pay attention. Some of these deficiencies may persist into late teenage and even adulthood.
How to Help An Expectant Mother with Crack Addiction
Where there’s a case of crack cocaine and pregnancy, a mother needs immediate cocaine addiction detox. It is dangerous to attempt detox from home because the withdrawal symptoms alone could be life-threatening when added to the condition of pregnancy.
The mother should be checked into a women’s rehab center as soon as possible so that she can start to detox and get on the path to recovery. Gender-specific facilities may make her feel more comfortable, as they include specialized services like prenatal care and parental skills training.
Addiction treatment should include the right medical interventions and psychological care. A dual diagnosis treatment program can help resolve any mental health issues.
Get Help for Crack Addiction at Serenity House Detox & Recovery
If you are working through cocaine addiction, it’s important to detox in a comfortable and well-regulated environment under experienced professionals’ watchful eyes. We offer a range of therapeutic treatments to help her overcome addiction, including:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Behavioral therapy program
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Yoga therapy
Reach out to Serenity House Detox & Recovery at 866.516.8356 if you or your loved one struggles with crack addiction and pregnancy.
