"The malformations of the baby's body due to a mother's drug use start at the time the baby is in the womb,"
Payne said.

According to Payne's studies, 97% of delivered "crack-babies" survived, and only 17% of those pregnancies had mothers and fathers that were married.

One of the dramatic effects on these unborn infants is a process called gastroschisis; a problem which occurs due to drug use by the mother, which Payne describes as "creating a hole in the baby's abdomen about the size of a quarter."

"The issues," said Payne "are identifying abusers, identifying the drugs, recognizing the effects on motherhood, and intervening in a meaningful way."

Along with the many problems of drug use, drugs also have drastic effects throughout the duration of a pregnancy. Among those effects are maternal hypertension and premature labor; the latter Payne said "is currently the leading cause of death for babies."

The worst-case scenarios are during those in which the mother uses multiple drugs. He also said that there is a significant correlation in a baby's development from drug use along with smoking cigarettes.

Consequentially, meth users have increased heart rates, higher blood pressure and potentially could have a stroke.

Payne also said that meth use appears to be regional; something he considers a problem.

Payne is hopeful for what he calls our "100-year drug using society" to diminish, but is practical in realizing how unlikely that is, "and it's unfortunate," he said.
-----