Can methamphetamine consumption by a mother during pregnancy cause the death of the newborn child?

Question

Hello doctor,

A 2-month-old infant died, and the tissue sample showed a trace of Methamphetamine. In addition, the mother tested positive for Methamphetamine two weeks before giving birth. Could the trace of Methamphetamine in the infant come from the mother's usage during the end of pregnancy? Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. Yes, that could be a possibility. Methamphetamine is a fast-acting stimulant that does not stay in the body for long. It has a plasma half-life of 12 to 34 hours. This means that it takes 12 to 34 hours for the amount of Methamphetamine in a person's blood to be reduced by half. This also depends on the amount taken and the functioning of the person's liver and kidneys. The longer and heavier use is, the longer it takes to leave the system entirely. Typically, it takes two to ten days for the drug to be flushed out of the system entirely. Thank you.