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Number of babies damaged by crystal meth increased by up to 1000 percent
The number of newborns suffering damage from the illegal drug Crystal Meth has increased significantly in recent years, in parts of Saxony even by as much as 1,000 percent. Doctors report that some mothers are intoxicated even at birth.
Some mothers are even high at birth
A few months ago, a survey showed that far too many Germans find alcohol acceptable during pregnancy. And that although the potential risks for mother and child should be known. Of course it is also known that expectant mothers should not consume drugs. Nevertheless, the number of born babies suffering from Crystal Meth damage has increased dramatically in recent years. In some births, the mothers are even high, as doctors report.
In Germany, more and more babies are born who have been harmed by the drug Crystal Meth. In parts of Saxony, the number of those affected increased by up to 1,000 percent. (Image: Sylvie Bouchard / fotolia.com) Health hazards do not deter consumers from using drugs
"In today's performance society, the use of methamphetamine - called due to the crystalline appearance of" Crystal Meth "- seems to increase," writes the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) on its website. "It promises to cope with stress and pressure with ease and to be able to accomplish more power in less time." In connection with the drug discovery in the Green Bundestag MP Volker Beck was increasingly informed about how harmful Crystal Meth in reality. But even the dangers do not keep consumers from the drug. According to the news agency dpa, as the drug Crystal from the Czech Republic comes to Saxony, so does the number of dependent women who give birth to children at the Dresden University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus. Often even on drug.
Abnormalities in newborns
"Too short, too light, too small a head or too early." Pediatrician and neonatologist Jürgen Dinger sees such abnormalities in newborns therefore more and more often. According to the agency, methamphetamine - the correct name of the relatively synthetically relatively easy and cheap substance to produce - because of the proximity to the drug kitchens in the neighboring country so far mainly still a Saxon problem. According to information from the state office against the addictive risks, the number of consumers who seek help from counseling centers in Saxony because of Crystal was four times higher than the national average at just under 5,000 last year. The BZgA also launched online help for Crystal Meth consumers a few years ago.
Increases of up to 1000 percent
According to Dinger, the number of damaged fetuses and newborns in Saxony has risen dramatically since 2007 - in the Chemnitz district by almost 400 percent. "The district of Leipzig is at 800 percent and the administrative district of Dresden shoots with 1000 percent from the bird." According to the information, there have been around 160,000 children between the ages of 160 and 180 affected each year in about 35,000 births nationwide. However, these are only the proven cases, the dark figure is high. "I think we have to beat 50 percent at least once again," says Dinger. "There are relatively few women who admit their addiction beforehand," explained gynecologist Katharina Nitzsche, who, together with Dinger, treated the Crystal-ill women and their children before and after birth at the university hospital.
Problems at birth
With Crystal patients, there are always problems at birth, especially when the mother and thus the child are drugged. "If they are right on drug, the cooperation is zero. The women are also totally by the wind, "explained Dinger. The babies are then "restless and fidgety" and it would lead to cramping. By contrast, if the mother has not consumed anything, the newborns are more symptomless in their behavior. "The same goes for the mothers: nothing taken - calm woman, relaxed. What taken - really aggressive and absolutely difficult, "said Nitzsche. Under drugs, women would have a lower tolerance to pain and frustration, leading to aggression. In extreme cases, then even under general anesthesia with cesarean section must be delivered.
Crystal patients do not necessarily recognize the appearance
The women are only tested for drugs if they give their consent. "It's different when I have a child who seems nervous or over-excited or cramps. Then I have to clear up the cause of the spasm immediately and can not ask if the mother agrees, "explained Dinger. "It's not the case that Crystal patients are recognized right away, as is often believed in the public eye," explained Nitzsche. According to dpa she has only experienced this in one case. "Most of them look relatively normal - just like you and me." In the US, the "Faces of Meth" campaign, among other things, draws attention to the physical decline of the drug with before / after pictures. In this country are so blatant facial aging due to the good health care rare.
Drug addiction of the offspring preprogrammed
Even a later drug addiction of the offspring is more or less programmed. "Crystal meth affects the receptors in the central nervous system and triggers the addiction," says Dinger. One knows from adults that this process is irreversible. Therefore, the children have a higher risk of becoming addicted later. "The body simply demands it, because the receptors were already adjusted in the womb." However, Dinger does not want to talk to Crystal of a withdrawal syndrome that would give birth to children of heroin-dependent women. "The abnormalities are more or less the expression of poisoning," explained the expert. This sounds off. So far, however, there was no experience of how the children would be a few years later - for example during school enrollment. They would certainly be noticeable. "And there is what we used to call" Zappelphilipp "in Wilhelm Busch, perhaps harmless." According to dpa Dinger pleaded not to stigmatize the mothers and give them help. For many, there is hope that a new life will begin after birth. The pregnancy is therefore a starting point. "Because this is a unique and sensitive phase in which you can not always break the addiction, but at least can build mechanisms that enable the mothers to better - controlled - deal with the addiction, especially for the sake of the child." (Ad)