Fetal exposure to narcotics: neonatal sleep as a measure of nervous system disturbance

Science. 1980 Aug 1;209(4456):619-21. doi: 10.1126/science.7190326.

Abstract

Newborn infants, chronically exposed in utero to low doses of methadone with or without concomitant heroin, display more rapid eye movement sleep and less quiet sleep than control infants, while babies fetally exposed to both opiates and nonopiates have less organization of sleep states. Other perinatal factors, such as birth weight and gestational age, are related more to the amount of fetal drug exposure than to the type.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Birth Weight
  • Female
  • Heroin / adverse effects*
  • Heroin Dependence / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Maternal-Fetal Exchange
  • Methadone / adverse effects*
  • Methadone / therapeutic use
  • Nervous System Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Pregnancy
  • Sleep / drug effects*
  • Substance-Related Disorders

Substances

  • Heroin
  • Methadone