Severe disorders in drug addicts’ babies

CHILDREN born to female heroin addicts suffer from severe and complex psychiatric problems, according to a new study.

The research found that children of mothers who used heroin during pregnancy had serious disorders, including attention, aggression and language disorders.

The report said such children faced a difficult future, with one in three likely to become persistent juvenile offenders.

Psychiatrists attached to the Mater Hospital in Dublin said these children were at “serious risk” of ongoing psychiatric disorders in childhood and adolescence, with negative consequences in adult life.

“Children who have been exposed in utero (during pregnancy) to opiates present severe and complex psychiatric morbidity, and this may be manifest well beyond infancy,” said the research.

Authors Ciarán Clarke and Carol Fitzpatrick, attached to the Department of Child and Adult Psychiatry, studied 15 children born to women who took heroin during pregnancy.

Five were diagnosed as having attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), three had conduct or defiant disorders, three had speech and language disorders while two had attachment disorders.

The vast majority came from disadvantaged socio-economic groups. Most were living with their biological mothers, either alone or with a partner who was not the child’s father. Three lived with foster carers.

The children presented with temper tantrums, were overactive or inattentive, had relationship difficulties or engaged in aggressive behaviour.

The researchers said that, in many ways, the children did not differ from other children referred to their clinic from areas of high social deprivation.

“What makes the children in this study stand out is the severity of their disorders at such a young age, and the inability, despite extensive professional involvement at school, community, and mental health service level, to bring about any significant improvement in their difficulties.”

The study said there was no early intervention programme and there needed to be greater coordination among various professionals.

There is limited data for the number of children born to heroin-addicted mothers in Ireland. The Coombe Women’s Hospital in Dublin had 86 babies born to drug- dependant women in 2004. Four babies died during pregnancy. Nearly half the women were Hepatitis C positive and 5% were HIV positive.