1. Combined exposure to alcohol and cannabis during development: Mechanisms and outcomes.
- Author
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Kovács, Martina V., Charchat-Fichman, Helenice, Landeira-Fernandez, J., Medina, Alexandre E., and Krahe, Thomas E.
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ALCOHOL drinking , *COCAINE-induced disorders , *SUBSTANCE abuse in pregnancy , *FETAL alcohol syndrome , *DRUG abuse , *ALCOHOL - Abstract
Exposure to substances of abuse during pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on offspring. Alcohol is one of the most widely used substances of abuse that leads to the most severe consequences. Recent studies in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom showed that between 1% and 7% of all children exhibit signs and symptoms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Despite preventive campaigns, the rate of children with FASD has not decreased during recent decades. Alcohol consumption often accompanies exposure to such drugs as tobacco, cocaine, opioids, and cannabis. These interactions can be synergistic and exacerbate the deleterious consequences of developmental alcohol exposure. The present review focuses on interactions between alcohol and cannabis exposure and the potential consequences of these interactions. • Cannabis is the most frequently used illicit drug among pregnant women. • Half of pregnant women who report cannabis use, also report the consumption of alcoholic beverages. • Early alcohol and cannabis exposure is linked to worse developmental outcomes than exposure to either drug alone. • Alcohol and cannabinoids exert a synergistic effect during early development through the endocannabinoid system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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