a. The adverse effects of exposure of the fetus to drugs are variable.

They include transient behavioral changes (such as fetal breathing movements) or irreversible effects (such as fetal death, intrauterine growth retardation, structure malformations, or mental retardation).

Maternal use of drugs may be for the pharmacologic control of disease process (for example, insulin) or for symptomatic relief of benign problems (for example, aspirin). In addition to the therapeutic use of drugs, the nontherapeutic use of drugs such as alcohol, nicotine, or narcotics poses threats to the fetal’s well-being. Substance abuse results in fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a syndrome characterized by physical and mental abnormalities of the newborn.

b. Nursing implications are listed below.

(1) Apply all general nursing implications related to the substance abuse patient.

(2) Participate in health team discharge planning for the substance dependent mother and newborn with social services.