Treatment of Addiction During Pregnancy
What We Do: At Ahwatukee Behavioral Health & Wellness, we specialize in providing services to pregnant women experiencing substance use and behavioral health issues. Dr. Daniel Pacheco is an experienced medical provider who is passionate about providing compassionate, personalized, evidence-based treatment to pregnant women experiencing substance use and behavioral health issues.
Substance Use During Pregnancy: Substance use during pregnancy can have adverse health effects on both mother and baby. Substances that can cause harm include alcohol, opioids, cigarettes, marijuana and non-medical use of prescription drugs.
- Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and a range of lifelong birth defects and developmental disabilities, known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
- Opioid use during pregnancy has been linked to poor fetal growth, preterm birth, stillbirth, specific birth defects, and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) or neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS).
- Cigarette smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of health problems for developing babies, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and birth defects of the mouth and lip. Smoking during and after pregnancy also increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In addition, tobacco products containing nicotine (the addictive drug found in tobacco) and e-cigarettes are not safe to use during pregnancy.
- Some research shows that marijuana use during pregnancy is linked to low birth weight. It may also increase the chances for developmental problems for a child, such as problems with attention and learning.
- Nonmedical use of prescription medications can lead to an increased risk of adverse health outcomes and overdose. Combining substances, such as opioids with benzodiazepines or opioids with alcohol, can also increase the risk of drug overdose.
If you need help for substance use, contact us today at 1-480-272-8450. For more information and treatment resources, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
