United States: New study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital contributes to the ongoing discussion about damaging effects of prenatal cannabis use on children.
Effects of Pot: The Damages of Prenatal Marijuana Consumption
The study that was done was published on October 28 in JAMA Pediatrics, where scientists discovered that prenatal cannabis use led to poor early childhood thinking, impulsiveness, inattention, working memory, and aggression. Many of them are necessary in a school setting as well as in effective interpersonal relationships, as reported by scitechdaily.com.
Cannabis Use During Pregnancy – The Possible Dangers
“Although cannabis is a natural product, there are still many risks to using it during pregnancy,” said Sarah Keim, PhD, principal investigator in the Center for Biobehavioral Health at Nationwide Children’s, and lead author of the study. “Some women may turn to cannabis to help deal with some common issues of pregnancy, including nausea, sleep problems, and stress. This is not recommended. Consulting with a doctor to find safer options to help with these issues during pregnancy is important.”
Two surveys were employed by the researchers- parent interviews, which include questions on the child’s behaviors and the children’s own behavioral and cognitive assessments in skills involving impulse control, paying attention, solving problems, and managing emotions for preschool children. The impact was discovered to be manifested in the impaired ability of children exposed to cannabis to handle impulsive behaviors, focus their attention, and plan when the children were monitored in a play laboratory.
Confirming Past Cannabis Studies
“Our findings were not surprising – they actually confirm and expand on longstanding evidence from previous research,” said Dr. Keim. “With our more contemporary and diverse sample of women and children, and with much higher potency of cannabis now than in past decades, this study validates previous research and supports existing clinical recommendations for patients.”
Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advise pregnant women to avoid cannabis due to possible risks to themselves and their children, as reported by scitechdaily.com.
