EFFECTS OF THE USE OF TOBACCO, ALCOHOL ANO COCAINE IN PREGNANCY ANO ITS OESCENOANTS

Abstract

The use of addictive substances is an important public health problem in Chile. Jt  is  astonishing  to find that  the highest consumption rates are in women of reproductive age, exposing them to complications in their pregnancies. Objective: ldentify the effects of tobacco, alcohol and cocaine use during pregnancy. Methods : A scientific database search was conducted with the fol/owing limits; artic/es less than 6 years old and free ful/  text access. 5591 articles were found and of them 24 were used in the study. Results : Consumption of tobacco leads to  lower  growth parameters and predisposes newborns to greater excitability and hypertone, as we/1 as higher risk  of  infantile  colic and sudden infant death syndrome. Alcohol use is related to risk of preterm delivery,  stillbirth,  and  spontaneous abortion in the first trimester, alteration of the vascular function and fatty acid's metabolism and neurological risk. Cocaine consumption makes newborns prone to low birth weight,  decreased  length  and cranial  circumference, as we/1 as increasing risk of malformations ar other pathologies in the neonatal period and leads to under deve/opment and lack of maturity of the central nervous system.  Conclusions:  Consumption  of  tobacco,  alcohol  and  cocaine affects intrauterine growth parameters and leads to  neurological  alterations. Tobacco  consumption  a/so  increases risk of infantile colic and sudden infant death syndrome. The use of alcohol increases risk of preterm delivery, spontaneous abortion and stillbirth.  Cocaine  can  predispose  newborns  to  malformations ,  abstinence  syndrome and to social problems. Due to the acknowledgment of these effects on  perinata/  outcomes ,  health  professionals must be attentive to detect al/ cases of drug use in arder to provide adequate interventions far the diminishing or

cessation of these habits. Key words:

trastornos relacionados con sustancias

, pregnant women, susbstance-related disorders.