Serious or recurrent illnesses increases a child's likelihood of experiencing child abuse.

However, the effects and their severity depend on the frequency, dosage, genetic metabolism of the parent and foetus and the type(s) of drugs used during the gestation period.

This table below and associated links may help determine possible risks associate with use of drugs during pregnancy.

Some of the harms resulting to children from different types of substances used during pregnancy include:

Excessively sleepy, rarely cry, feeding may be poor requiring tube feeding

Foetal distress

Intrauterine growth retardation

Decrease in head circumference

In one-third of full term, evidence of brain haemorrhage, cavitation or infarction

Increased incidences of aggressive behaviours

Peer related problems

Hyperactivity

Prenatal damage cannot be fully compensated for by good psychosocial environments after birth

Foetal Alcohol Effects and Foetal Alcohol Syndrome: 1-3 per 1,000 births

Growth failure, facial abnormalities and abnormalities of the heart, kidneys, ears and skeletal system

Hearing loss and chronic inflammation of ear

Average IQ of 63 but wide ranging

Symptoms of withdrawal have occurred in neonates who mothers continued to drink throughout pregnancy

FAS - include palpebral fissures, short upturned nose, hypoplastic philtrum (depression between nose and upper lip), flat midface and thinned upper lip.

Improvement of dysmorphic features over time

High level of psychosocial problems, i.e. learning disabilities, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and antisocial behaviour

Growth failure and mental retardation are not ameliorated even if the children are reared in positive environment

Average academic functioning at the second to fourth grade levels, with a significant deficit in arithmetic skills. Poor independent living skills, judgements

Maladaptive behaviours such as destructibility and difficulty perceiving social cues

Higher risk of pre-term, low birthweight or small for gestational age infant (may be primarily related to tobacco and other drug use)

Signs of some irritability

Signs of optical blink, strabismus

Research continuing

Intrauterine growth retarded, small head circumference

Withdrawal symptoms (after a few days)

Cardiac, urinary tract defects

Neurobehavioural effects

Poor social interaction

Sleep poorly

Poor feeding

Delays in fine motor and visual coordination

Hyperactivity

Persistent irritability

Difficulty sitting balanced

Central nervous system damage

Immune system damage

Glue, Solvents, Petrol, Aerosol, Toluene, Nitrous Oxide

May have similar effects to alcohol

Lead in petrol affects brain functioning

Difficult to separate effects as often used with other substances

Some likely to be more hazardous that others (eg leaded petrol more hazardous than glue. Nitrous Oxide less hazardous than glue)

Unknown

May be born addicted to opiates

Withdrawal symptoms (birth to 4 months but most symptoms over in one to two weeks): extreme reflex reactions, tremors, irritability, abnormal crying disturbed sleep and impaired motor control

Few if any long term-effects.

Initial symptoms may interfere with bonding which can have a range of long-term effects.