Caring for Your Adopted Child by Elaine E. Schulte MD MPH FAAP

Author:Elaine E. Schulte, MD, MPH, FAAP
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: American Academy of Pediatrics
Published: 2019-11-29T16:00:00+00:00

Prenatal Exposure to Substances

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that all adopted children be evaluated for possible exposure to drugs and alcohol in utero. Please know that pregnant women may use a wide variety of licit and illicit substances. Exposure to licit substances, such as tobacco and alcohol, and illicit substances, such as opioids, is more common among adopted children and children in foster care. Thus, it is helpful for adoptive families to understand fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and neonatal abstinence syndrome, 2 medical conditions that occur more commonly in adopted children.

Children who have had prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol are at a higher risk for problems with development, behavior, and learning. That isn’t to say that a problem will definitely develop, as I can’t predict who will be affected, but since the risk is increased, it’s important to understand possible difficulties. I have seen, however, and research suggests,1 that children who have been exposed to prenatal substances do better in a safe, supportive, stimulating, and nurturing environment.

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