As cannabis is legalized and is more accessible in various forms across the country, there is increasing concern among health care providers about potential impact on children. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have new findings to add to the existing evidence that cannabis exposure before birth can negatively impact children.

In a study published today in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers found prenatal cannabis exposure was associated in early childhood with poorer thinking skills and behaviors such as impulse control, paying attention, planning ability, and more aggressive behavior, all of which play a vital role in how children perform in school and interact with others.

“Although cannabis is a natural [only ‘maybe natural’ in its un-engineered state]  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 health care provider to find safer options to help with these issues during pregnancy is important.”

Researchers used multiple assessments, including asking parents about their child’s typical behaviors and measurement of skills related to impulse control, paying attention, solving problems, and managing emotions in preschool-aged children. Results showed children exposed to cannabis had more difficultly controlling their impulses, paying attention and planning, and showed more aggressive behavior when researchers observed their behavior in a play laboratory environment.

“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.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists both caution against cannabis use during pregnancy because of possible health risks to mothers and children.

More information is available at Nationwide Childrens.org/Research. Cannabis Use During Pregnancy Can Impact Thinking | Newswise

While the carefree days of childhood are supposed to be a time of joy and wonder, the harsh reality is that too many young lives are marred by abuse, neglect, and exposure to toxic substances. A sobering new study from the University of Sydney has shed light on the long-lasting mental health consequences of such childhood trauma.

The research, published in JAMA Psychiatry, found that a staggering 40% of common mental health conditions can be directly attributed to the impact of maltreatment during formative years. This includes:

• 21% of depressive disorder cases
• 24% of anxiety disorder cases
• 32% of drug use disorder cases
• 39% of self-harm cases and 41% of suicide attempts
• 27% of alcohol use disorder cases

In other words, the wounds inflicted on these vulnerable young minds don’t just heal with time – they fester, leading to a lifetime of emotional turmoil and anguish.

The culprits behind this mental health crisis are all too familiar: physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as emotional and physical neglect. And let’s not forget the insidious impact of exposure to drugs and alcohol, which can further compound the trauma. It’s a veritable perfect storm of factors that rob children of their innocence and saddle them with invisible scars.

But what’s most alarming is that these issues aren’t just limited to the individual. The researchers estimate that eradicating childhood maltreatment could prevent over 1.8 million cases of mental illness in Australia alone. That’s a staggering societal cost, both in terms of human suffering and the strain on our healthcare system.

Yet, despite these sobering statistics, the conversation around childhood trauma and its mental health implications often remains hushed and stigmatised. It’s time to shed light on this silent epidemic and demand better support systems for vulnerable children and their families.

After all, the mind is a precious thing, and no child should have to navigate its darkest corners alone. It’s high time we prioritise prevention, intervention, and holistic healing – because the alternative is a generation haunted by the demons of their past, condemned to a lifetime of mental health struggles.

Source (WRD News)

Also see

• Child Abuse – Girls a Particular Target. (The AOD Factor?)
• Childhood maltreatment linked to greater cognitive difficulties than previously thought
• AOD Use and the Kincare Crisis

Research spanning over three decades has consistently highlighted how the frequency, severity, and impact of violence escalate in the presence of alcohol and drugs.

Unified Care for Safer Lives

It’s all too common for domestic violence and substance use to be treated as separate issues, which often leads to patchy solutions. We really need to start looking at these problems together, creating strategies that keep victims and children safe. By focusing on comprehensive policies, we can tackle these complex challenges head-on.

When we truly grasp how substance use and domestic violence are linked, we can advocate more effectively for solutions that protect families and foster a healthier society. It’s crucial to break the silence that many victims endure. By having open conversations and building supportive networks, we can provide those in need with the resources to rebuild their lives and make our communities safer. 

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Just when we thought we had a handle on teen substance abuse (we did NOT), along comes social media to throw a digital wrench in the works. It turns out those shiny apps on our kids’ phones aren’t just for sharing selfies and dance videos – they’re inadvertently serving as virtual gateways to drug and alcohol experimentation. While health officials have been patting themselves on the back for decades of anti-drug campaigns, social media algorithms have been quietly undermining their efforts, one viral post at a time. Parents, educators, and health professionals, it’s time to face facts: we’ve got a new drug dealer in town, and it’s hiding in plain sight on every teenager’s home screen. 

Leveraging Social Media for Prevention

While social media poses significant risks, some experts see potential in harnessing these platforms for substance use prevention and education. Government agencies and health organisations in the United States have launched anti-vaping campaigns on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, which may have contributed to recent declines in teen vaping rates.

However, these efforts are still vastly outnumbered by pro-substance content. Researchers emphasise the need for sustained investment in developing effective social media-based prevention strategies. This could involve partnering with social media influencers to create engaging anti-drug content or collaborating with young people to co-design relevant messaging that resonates with teen audiences.

The Australian government has begun experimenting with influencer-led campaigns to spark conversations among youth about the harms of vaping and nicotine addiction. While this approach leverages influencers’ authenticity and established audience relationships, experts caution that careful vetting and risk mitigation plans are necessary.

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A recent population-based retrospective cohort study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has explored the associations between prenatal cannabis use and maternal health outcomes during pregnancy. The study analysed pregnancies in Northern California from January 2011 to December 2019 and evaluated whether in utero exposure to cannabis is linked to various adverse maternal health conditions.

Study Design and Participants

The study included pregnancies that lasted 20 weeks or longer and were screened for prenatal cannabis use. A total of 316,722 pregnancies from 250,221 unique individuals were examined. The demographic breakdown of the sample was as follows:

• Asian/Pacific Islander: 26.5% (84,039)
• Black: 6.3% (20,053)
• Hispanic: 26.3% (83,145)
• White: 37.4% (118,333)
• Mean Age: 30.6 years (Standard Deviation: 5.4 years)

Exposure Definition

Prenatal cannabis use was defined based on self-reported use during early pregnancy or positive toxicology test results from universal screening at the entrance to prenatal care (approximately 8-10 weeks’ gestation). The frequency of use was categorised as daily, weekly, monthly or less, never, or unknown. Specific data points included:

• Self-reported Use: 2.9%
• Positive Toxicology Testing: 5.3%
• Both Self-report and Toxicology: 1.8%

Frequency of cannabis use among the study participants was:

• Daily: 0.6% (1,930)
• Weekly: 0.7% (2,345)
• Monthly or Less: 1.5% (4,892)
• Unknown: 3.4% (10,886)

Main Outcomes and Measures

Electronic health record data were used to define the following maternal health outcomes:

• Gestational Hypertension
• Preeclampsia
• Eclampsia
• Gestational Diabetes
• Gestational Weight Gain Greater and Less than Guidelines
• Placenta Previa
• Placental Abruption
• Placenta Accreta
• Severe Maternal Morbidity

Adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) were calculated using a modified Poisson regression to determine the association between prenatal cannabis use and these health outcomes.

Results:

The study found significant associations between prenatal cannabis use and several adverse maternal health outcomes:

• Gestational Hypertension: aRR of 1.17 (95% CI, 1.13-1.21)
• Preeclampsia: aRR of 1.08 (95% CI, 1.01-1.15)
• Weight Gain Less than Guidelines: aRR of 1.05 (95% CI, 1.01-1.08)
• Weight Gain Greater than Guidelines: aRR of 1.09 (95% CI, 1.08-1.10)
• Placental Abruption: aRR of 1.19 (95% CI, 1.05-1.36)

The study noted that the pattern of results was similar when prenatal cannabis use was defined solely by self-report or toxicology testing. Additionally, the associations between the frequency of prenatal cannabis use and outcomes varied with the specific health outcome being measured.

Conclusions and Relevance: The findings suggest that prenatal cannabis use is associated with several adverse maternal health outcomes during pregnancy. Continued research is necessary to understand whether characteristics such as dose, mode, and timing of prenatal cannabis use moderate these associations. (Source: JAMA)