HHS HealthBeat (April 10, 2012)

Mom’s ecstasy, Baby’s problems

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Ecstasy is among the most widely used drugs by young people – so some pregnant women are users. And a study indicates the drug may affect the fetus.

At Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Lynn Singer looked at data on 96 pregnant women in England – and their babies at birth and at 4 months.  She says heavy ecstasy users were more likely to have babies who didn’t meet development milestones for such things as coordination and balance.

“The data so far suggests to us that there are effects of ecstasy that are harmful to the developing fetus.” (9 seconds)

The study in the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: April 10, 2012