Dear Dr. Levy: I know that drinking is terrible to do during pregnancy as it can harm a fetus. I am wondering, though, if you know whether drinking during pregnancy can cause a baby to develop an alcohol problem later in life.
A: You ask a very interesting and complicated question. It's complicated because it is difficult to separate genetic factors associated with developing an alcohol problem from in utero alcohol exposure. That is, if a mother drinks during pregnancy and then has a child who develops an alcohol problem, the reason the baby eventually develops the problem may be because the fetus was exposed to alcohol when it was developing.
However, it is also possible that the baby developed an alcohol problem due to the genes the mother passed along since alcoholism has genetic roots. One can also argue that a mother who drinks during pregnancy may have both an alcohol problem and a genetic vulnerability to such a problem.
I did see a study that did investigate this question. It found that fetuses exposed in utero to alcohol had an increased chance of developing an alcohol problem by the time they were 21 years old. In particular, the children of mothers who drank three or more drinks at one time on at least a few occasions during pregnancy had an increased chance of developing an alcohol problem in early adulthood.
The researchers believe that alcohol can affect the central nervous system and the development of the brain in such a way that it can increase the probability of developing an alcohol problem. So while environmental and genetic factors are still very important in the development of an alcohol problem, in utero exposure to alcohol also seems to play a role.
Dear Dr. Levy: I know that many kids now mix alcohol with energy drinks. Is this dangerous?
A: Researchers have begun to look at this. It appears college students who mixed alcohol with energy drinks doubled their risk of being injured and requiring medical attention. In addition, mixing alcohol and energy drinks together increases the chances of driving with someone who is intoxicated, as well as being taken advantage of sexually or taking advantage of someone else.
The researchers believe this occurs because students who feel alert due to the energy drink may not think that their motor skills, reaction times and judgment are particularly impaired. In truth, they are.
A: You ask a very interesting and complicated question. It's complicated because it is difficult to separate genetic factors associated with developing an alcohol problem from in utero alcohol exposure. That is, if a mother drinks during pregnancy and then has a child who develops an alcohol problem, the reason the baby eventually develops the problem may be because the fetus was exposed to alcohol when it was developing.
However, it is also possible that the baby developed an alcohol problem due to the genes the mother passed along since alcoholism has genetic roots. One can also argue that a mother who drinks during pregnancy may have both an alcohol problem and a genetic vulnerability to such a problem.
I did see a study that did investigate this question. It found that fetuses exposed in utero to alcohol had an increased chance of developing an alcohol problem by the time they were 21 years old. In particular, the children of mothers who drank three or more drinks at one time on at least a few occasions during pregnancy had an increased chance of developing an alcohol problem in early adulthood.
The researchers believe that alcohol can affect the central nervous system and the development of the brain in such a way that it can increase the probability of developing an alcohol problem. So while environmental and genetic factors are still very important in the development of an alcohol problem, in utero exposure to alcohol also seems to play a role.
Dear Dr. Levy: I know that many kids now mix alcohol with energy drinks. Is this dangerous?
A: Researchers have begun to look at this. It appears college students who mixed alcohol with energy drinks doubled their risk of being injured and requiring medical attention. In addition, mixing alcohol and energy drinks together increases the chances of driving with someone who is intoxicated, as well as being taken advantage of sexually or taking advantage of someone else.
The researchers believe this occurs because students who feel alert due to the energy drink may not think that their motor skills, reaction times and judgment are particularly impaired. In truth, they are.
nnn
Send questions about addictions or related problems to: Take The First Step, c/o Essex County Newspapers, 32 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA 01915; or send an e-mail to michael_levy@cabhealth.org. Questions will be answered in confidence by a clinical team led by Dr. Michael Levy, director of clinical treatment services at CAB Health & Recovery Services in Peabody and author of "Take Control of Your Drinking ... and You May Not Need to Quit."
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