$10m to investigate cocaine abuse in mothers

Universities have been given $10 million to investigate the affect cocaine abuse during pregnancy has on the relationship between a mother and her child.

Funding has been obtained for research which will examine the interaction between cocaine abuse during pregnancy and mothers' later relationships with their children.

The University of North Carolina and Yale University have been granted $10 million (£6.7 million) for the project, which they say will help inform cocaine intervention strategies.

It will be undertaken in three phases, with the first of these examining the affect of the substance abuse on rodent mother-offspring relationships, analysing mental development and physical effects.

The second step will involve human participants, studying the hormonal and emotional reactions to various stimuli, while the third will deploy functional brain imaging scans.

Professor of child psychiatry, paediatrics and psychology at Yale University Linda Mayes claims any developments could be useful for behavioural and biological cocaine intervention strategies.

"If specific types of cries are found to elicit negative feelings or responses from mothers, on a very basic level we can work with mothers to make them aware of why these cries might be uncomfortable," she says.

More than 30 researchers will be involved in the project.

In recent related news, a study by the Central Institute of Mental Health has found a genetic marker which is believed to contribute to cocaine addiction.

Those who abused the substance were 25 per cent more likely to carry a particular variation of CAMK4 than the general population.

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$10m to investigate cocaine abuse in mothers

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Universities have been given $10 million to investigate the affect cocaine abuse during pregnancy has on the relationship between a mother and her child.

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