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Opiates and Marijuana Use During Pregnancy: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes

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Pediatric Neurotoxicology

Part of the book series: Specialty Topics in Pediatric Neuropsychology ((STPN))

Abstract

Opioid and marijuana use during pregnancy has received increased attention over time; however, there is still much unknown about the effect of in utero exposure to opiates and marijuana on child development. The current chapter outlines evidence suggesting that prenatal opioid exposure is linked to decreased neurobehavioral development in infants, challenges associated with neonatal abstinence syndrome, and potential behavioral concerns such as inattention and hyperactivity later in childhood. Marijuana exposure has been less studied; however, there is some evidence to suggest such exposure is linked to deficits later in childhood, such as decreased attention span and short-term memory skills. Implications for intervention/prevention and school-based accommodations are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Illinois State University, Campus Box 4620, Normal, IL, 61790, USA

    Leandra Parris Ph.D.

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  1. Leandra Parris Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Leandra Parris Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA

    Cynthia A. Riccio

  2. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA

    Jeremy R. Sullivan

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Parris, L. (2016). Opiates and Marijuana Use During Pregnancy: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes. In: Riccio, C., Sullivan, J. (eds) Pediatric Neurotoxicology. Specialty Topics in Pediatric Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32358-9_4

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