Birth Defects
Some drugs more frequently cause birth defects than others, notably alcohol, the most common cause of preventable birth defects in the United States, affecting between 0.5 and two children per thousand births, the Office of the Surgeon General reported in 2005. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome causes facial malformations, learning difficulties, behavioral issues and small stature. Amphetamines, such as Ecstasy, and methamphetamines may cause congenital heart defects, cleft lip and palate or clubfoot in some infants, according to the March of Dimes. Cocaine exposure may cause urinary tract defects.
Learning Disabilities
A number of studies indicate that prenatal drug exposure can cause learning disabilities as children grow. A 2002 article in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" by lead author Lynn Singer, Ph.D., of Case Western Reserve University Department of Pediatrics found that cocaine-exposed children were twice as likely to have cognitive delays compared to children not prenatally exposed to cocaine. Children prenatally exposed to heroin may also have long-term learning disabilities, the March of Dimes reports.
Behavioral Issues
Learning disabilities and behavioral issues often go hand in hand. One study reported in the 2007 "Journal of Behavioral Pediatrics" by lead author Dr. Michael Lewis reported an increase in high-risk behavior, such as aggression, disregard for safety precautions and substance abuse, in 10-year-old males exposed to cocaine prenatally compared to boys not exposed to cocaine. This issue was found only in boys.
Growth Retardation
Fetal alcohol syndrome can cause growth retardation and short stature. A 2007 University of Pittsburgh study by Dr. Gale Richardson in "Pediatrics" reported that children exposed to cocaine during the first three months of pregnancy had slower growth rates than those not exposed to cocaine.
