The findings come at a time when cannabis use is on the rise to ease morning sickness and nausea
While the risks of drug use, smoking and drinking during pregnancy are widely accepted, a new survey of parents has identified clear associations between certain types of childhood cancers and gestational substance use, notably cannabis.
Kyle Walsh, PhD, associate professor in the Duke Department of Neurosurgery, was lead author of a study appearing in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention. The findings add specificity to the potential harms of drug and alcohol use during pregnancy. Findings come at a time when cannabis use has risen, often as a remedy for severe morning sickness and nausea.
“Alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy has declined, but gestational cannabis use has risen in the last decade,” said Walsh.
Full story is available from the Duke Health News Office.