Children prenatally exposed to cocaine and/or cannabis had fewer health checkups, more emergency visits, more hospitalizations (mainly respiratory), and more family disruption over four years compared to unexposed children.
Pediatricians, social workers, and public health researchers focused on prenatal substance exposure.
29 exposed children tracked for 4 years
What the researchers found
Exposed children (n=29) had significantly fewer health checkups (p<0.0001), more emergency department visits (p=0.03), and more hospitalizations (p=0.007), primarily for respiratory conditions. They also had higher rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, more changes of home, and more legal interventions. One exposed child and two parents had violent deaths; no deaths occurred in the unexposed group.
Why it matters
Most prenatal cannabis/cocaine exposure studies focus on birth outcomes. This study tracks children over four years, capturing ongoing health and social consequences.
The numbers in context
29 exposed, 58 unexposed children. Fewer checkups (p<0.0001). More ER visits (p=0.03). More hospitalizations (p=0.007). 1 child death and 2 parent deaths in exposed group. 0 deaths in unexposed group.
How the study worked
Retrospective cohort study with a double control group in La Pampa, Argentina. 29 exposed children detected through urine testing at birth and 58 unexposed children followed for 4 years (2009-2013).
What this study cannot tell us
Very small sample (29 exposed). Most mothers were poly-drug users, so cannabis effects cannot be separated from cocaine. Retrospective design. Single hospital in Argentina. Social confounders are significant.
How to read the evidence
Small retrospective cohort with significant confounding from poly-drug use and social factors.
When this study was published
2019 study using 2009-2013 data from Argentina.
The bigger picture
The social disruption (home changes, legal interventions, violent deaths) highlights that prenatal drug exposure often occurs alongside broader family instability, making it difficult to isolate the biological effects.
Questions still open
- How much of the difference is due to prenatal drug exposure versus ongoing family instability? Would targeted support services for these families improve child outcomes?
Common questions
Does prenatal cannabis exposure cause health problems in children?
What health problems did exposed children have?
Read the original research
Four-year health trajectories of children prenatally exposed to cocaine and/or cannabis. A retrospective, cohort study in La Pampa, Argentina.
Archivos argentinos de pediatria, 117(6), 360-367
Citation
Villarreal, Marina; Belmonte, Valeria; Abdala, Agustina; Olivares, Jorge L. (2019). Four-year health trajectories of children prenatally exposed to cocaine and/or cannabis. A retrospective, cohort study in La Pampa, Argentina.. Archivos argentinos de pediatria, 117(6), 360-367. https://doi.org/10.5546/aap.2019.eng.360
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