Brookhaven Hospital: Mental Health Treatment for Behavioral Health Problems, Chemical Dependency, Eating Disorders, Brain Injuries, and Renewal Christian Treatment and Recovery

Thursday, September 14, 2006 10:01 AM
posted by Michael Mason

Meth Babies Face Significant Challenges

For quite some time, anecdotes have circulated about the many young lives damaged by parental meth use, and now the data is starting to support the rumors. Take a look:

Babies born to mothers who used methamphetamine during pregnancy are 3.5 times more likely to be small for their gestational age than children of non-users, according to researchers here.

The findings are similar to those seen in infants born to cocaine-using mothers, and they suggest direct growth-restrictive effects of in utero methamphetamine exposure, reported Lynne M. Smith, M.D., of the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, here, and colleagues, in the September issue of Pediatrics.

"Both of these drugs are central nervous stimulants, and it appears that both drugs have similar effects on the developing fetus," said co-author Barry M. Lester, Ph.D., of the Brown Center for Children at Risk at Brown University in Providence, R.I.

Researchers are quick to point out, however, that while these babies face challenges, they should not suffer the stigma of being labeled as damaged or disabled, as current findings do not support long term problems yet.

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Rolf B. Gainer, Ph.D., Diplomate ABDA, is the Chief Executive Office at Brookhaven Hospital and the Vice President of Rehabilitation Institutes of America. Dr. Gainer has been involved in the design and operation of treatment programs since 1977.

Stephen Harnish, MD is the Medical Director of Brookhaven Hospital. Dr. Harnish is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and is well known in Oklahoma for his informative radio and television appearances.

Aric Thorpe, MHR, is Brookhaven Hospital's Pastoral Liaison Representative. He conducts the quarterly Minister's Lifeline series and provides mental health information to pastors and clergy.

Sarah McGee, BA, serves as the Community Education Provider for Brookhaven Hospital. She provides information on mental health and drug and alcohol treatment to healthcare professionals in Oklahoma and surrounding states.

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