Challenging Report on Pregnancy and Drug Abuse

Article Abstract:

Arresting and incarcerating pregnant drug addicts is ineffective, unethical and possibly unconstitutional. These arrests have occurred even though there are no state laws criminalizing the use of drugs during pregnancy. Most arrests are made for cocaine, heroin and marijuana, but alcohol and tobacco are more widely used. Many state courts have reversed decisions to incarcerate pregnant drug addicts. The South Carolina Supreme Court argued that the unborn fetus was being abused by the mother's drug use. But the US Supreme Court has ruled that fetuses are not constitutional persons entitled to legal protection.

Crime, Drug addicts, Drug abusers

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NIDA Seeking Data on Effect of Fetal Exposure to Methamphetamine

Article Abstract:

The National Institute on Drug Abuse is concerned about a potential explosion of babies who were affected prenatally by methamphetamine. A 1996 survey found that 4.9 million Americans have tried methamphetamine, up from 3.8 million in 1994. There are not many studies on the effect of prenatal methampetamine use. One study using MRI scans of the brain found a decrease in N-acetyl aspartate in the nerve cells of children who had been exposed to methamphetamine in the uterus. N-acetyl aspartate is only found in mature nerve cells, indicating that the drug may prevent the fetal brain from maturing.

Fetus, Methamphetamine

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EMF exposure study rules out 'causing' cancer, finds 'association' with leukemia puzzling but real

Article Abstract:

A report from a 16-member committee of the National Research Council concludes that electromagnetic fields (EMF) are not associated with increased rates of cancer. The committee reviewed over 500 studies of EMF exposure and found that only the rates of childhood leukemia were slightly but significantly raised in populations living close to large transmission lines. However, EMF levels in homes do not always correlate with proximity to power lines. Studies of cell cultures and animals have found no adverse effects of EMF levels found in most homes.

Electromagnetic fields, Risk factors, Environmental aspects, Cancer, Cancer in children, Childhood cancer, Childhood leukemia, Leukemia in children

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