OTHER DRUGS TO AVOID

I REFER to the report on drug use in pregnancy (Monitor, Dec 5). Most cases
of illicit drug use in pregnancy are easily managed these days. Excellent
outcomes are achieved for both mother and child.

The report referred to the "agonies" of drug withdrawal for newborn
children. These occur rarely, if at all, these days. Likewise, the
reference to addiction of newborn babies to cannabis is something unknown
to science.

There is impressive evidence that outcomes for pregnancy and childbirth for
heroin-using women are improved by careful use of methadone, counselling
and antenatal care. The withdrawal from methadone for the baby is not
uncomfortable. These interventions are safe, effective and inexpensive.

It is surprising that the report did not draw attention to the far better
evidence that smoking cigarettes or binge drinking of alcohol during
pregnancy are very harmful to unborn babies. Smoking and binge drinking are
much more common than illicit drug use.

Because most of the damage to the unborn baby from alcohol occurs very
early during pregnancy - even before the mother-to-be realises her pregnant
status - all women who drink and might become pregnant should be moderate
in their alcohol consumption.

Dr Alex Wodak, director, Alcohol and Drug Service, St Vincent's Hospital,
Sydney, NSW.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski