Does parental exposure to cocaine predispose offspring to develop a cocaine addiction?
The effect of cocaine use on fetal development has been a hot topic since the drug reached the height of its popularity from the 1970s to the mid-1980s. A large number of research studies on the teratogenic effect of cocaine emerged in response to the so-called “crack baby epidemic.” The results of these studies were often exaggerated or flawed, reporting that populations exposed in utero would have severe physical, emotional, and behavioral disabilities (Keller et al. 1996). While exaggerated, the results of these studies were not entirely false, and since then there has been a significant number of research studies that support the teratogenic effect …show more content…
2013, Keller et al. 1996). Repeated cocaine use often leads to dependence because the extraneous dopamine effects the mesolimbic reward pathway in the brain. In particular, the increased dopamine levels effect the nucleus accumbens region of the brain and produces the feeling of pleasure and satisfaction (Frank et al. 2011). The limbic system also contains the hippocampus and the amygdala, which function in memory. The over activation of these regions help the cocaine-user remember the euphoric experience (Frank et al. 2011). Repeated use may lead to addiction and the craving for the cocaine …show more content…
Oftentimes, cocaine abuse and its use during pregnancy is seen in individuals with a disadvantaged living situation such as poverty, depression, and exposure to violence (Lambert et al. 2012, Lambert et al. 2013). There is indication that in utero drug exposure may lead to a deficit in inhibitory control, which ultimately affects the decision-making of adolescents (Lambert et al. 2013). Participants in a study published in 2013 were enrolled at birth and revisited 22 times until they were 15 years old (Lambert et al. 2013). While they did not investigate the prevalence of cocaine abuse in these adolescents, they did examine inhibitory control (Lambert et al. 2013). They also found evidence that prenatal cocaine exposure may contribute to neurobehavioral dysregulation associated with substance abuse beyond adolescence (Lambert et al. 2013). The decline of inhibitory control may predispose the child to substance abuse, which may subsequently lead to a dependence
The effect of cocaine use on fetal development has been a hot topic since the drug reached the height of its popularity from the 1970s to the mid-1980s. A large number of research studies on the teratogenic effect of cocaine emerged in response to the so-called “crack baby epidemic.” The results of these studies were often exaggerated or flawed, reporting that populations exposed in utero would have severe physical, emotional, and behavioral disabilities (Keller et al. 1996). While exaggerated, the results of these studies were not entirely false, and since then there has been a significant number of research studies that support the teratogenic effect …show more content…
2013, Keller et al. 1996). Repeated cocaine use often leads to dependence because the extraneous dopamine effects the mesolimbic reward pathway in the brain. In particular, the increased dopamine levels effect the nucleus accumbens region of the brain and produces the feeling of pleasure and satisfaction (Frank et al. 2011). The limbic system also contains the hippocampus and the amygdala, which function in memory. The over activation of these regions help the cocaine-user remember the euphoric experience (Frank et al. 2011). Repeated use may lead to addiction and the craving for the cocaine …show more content…
Oftentimes, cocaine abuse and its use during pregnancy is seen in individuals with a disadvantaged living situation such as poverty, depression, and exposure to violence (Lambert et al. 2012, Lambert et al. 2013). There is indication that in utero drug exposure may lead to a deficit in inhibitory control, which ultimately affects the decision-making of adolescents (Lambert et al. 2013). Participants in a study published in 2013 were enrolled at birth and revisited 22 times until they were 15 years old (Lambert et al. 2013). While they did not investigate the prevalence of cocaine abuse in these adolescents, they did examine inhibitory control (Lambert et al. 2013). They also found evidence that prenatal cocaine exposure may contribute to neurobehavioral dysregulation associated with substance abuse beyond adolescence (Lambert et al. 2013). The decline of inhibitory control may predispose the child to substance abuse, which may subsequently lead to a dependence