Children grow, develop, and learn in the context of relationships, but the maternal child relationship can be disrupted by substance use in pregnancy. This session will explore the biological and psychosocial factors that impact the development of a nurturing relationship between a woman with a history of substance misuse during pregnancy and her child and will provide an overview of intervention strategies that can promote positive attachment.
Learning objectives
At the completion of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the biological impact of substance use on the neuroendocrine system responsible for attachment.
2. Discuss the impact of prenatal substance exposure on neonatal neurobehavior.
3. Analyze the impact of prenatal substance exposure on the neonate’s ability to participate in a dyadic relationship with his or her mother.