Cocaine Abuse and Infants: A Review of Literature

Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant which produces an euphoric effect that is immediate but short-lived. The euphoria is followed by depression and irritability. Physical effects include a rise in heart rate and temperature, hypertension, and tachycardia and peripheral vasoconstriction. Severe doses may lead to seizure, stroke, hyperthermia, myocardial infarction, acute toxicity, and sudden death. The route of administration may lead to less serious complications such as rhinitis, sinusitis, erosion, or perforation of the nasal septum due to snorting. Freebasing can lead to bronchitis or other problems. Intravenous use may lead to viral and bacterial infections. Behaviors such as the use of sex to barter for cocaine may take place. Psychological effects may include lethargy, cocaine, craving, irritability, and anhedonia with withdrawal efforts. Psychotic episodes and paranoia are sometimes found in heavy users (Sulliva

. . .
itive to infant-cues and the infants were less responsive and sent poor cues. These mothers failed to respond to infant cries of distress. However, in another study it was shown that cocaine-using mothers did not differ from non-abusers regarding mother-child interactions scores for the two groups at age 7-16 weeks. Summary and Conclusions In summary, the literature points out that cocaine use has many negative consequences for both the mother and the infant. In addition to the negative physical and psychological problems, the mother demonstrates a tendency to be unable to comfort the infant (Free et al., 1990). Behaviors of the cocaine-abusing mothers include depressive symptoms that appear to interfere with the mother's ability to respond to the infant (Ball, et al., 1997). Infant mood and behavior are also associated with the mother's inability to show enthusiasm and responsivity toward the infant (Burns et al., 1997). On the other hand it has also been shown that maternal responsivity improves over time and this tendency can be enhanced with intervention (Brinker, et al., 1994; French et al., 1997). Factors which may affect the mother's behavior include lifestyle stresses that can be alleviated with intervent
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Consequences Cocaine, Goals Profession, Summary Conclusions, Definition Profession, Borys Pope, Professional Practice, Code Ethics, Practice Social, Chatterjee Canada, Relational Assessment, social worker, ego development, mother-infant interactions, substance abuse, et al, social practice, mothers infants, cocaine-abusing mothers, substance-abusing mothers, client's goals, beckwith howard espinosa, behaviors cocaine-abusing mothers, domestic violence victim, et al 1997, chethik burns clark,
Approximate Word count = 4871
Approximate Pages = 19 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Cocaine Abuse and Infants: A Review of Literature