Question:
Here's the background. In a political argument
in the a.p.l group some have challenged the idea
a pregnant woman can actually pass her addiction
to a drug on to the child. I have been under the
assumption this was possible.
Could any kind med-types here give us the
definitive word. Have any cases been reported
in medical journals, if so please send the cite
if available.
Answer:
How about (almost) firsthand? I'm married to an (ex-) staffer in a regional
neonatal intensive care unit. Regrettably, a large number of their cases came
in hooked at birth. Heroin and cocaine especially, although alcohol does a
pretty good job too.
In all cases the kid had to be detoxed along with the rest of its problems.
Some of them had cardiac arrest from the withdrawal. (If your friends
think this is a put-on, they can ask at any NICU, where they will immediately
find that taking a hammer to the detonator of a 500-lb bomb is safe by
comparison.)
If they're particularly obstinate, make them pay for the lesson. Like maybe
the loser of the bet does 40 hours volunteer work in the neonatal detox.
(Guaranteed to give them nightmares for YEARS.)
