What are the effects on a Baby if the Father is on Drugs when Conception takes place?

It has been well documented that a Mother who uses drugs while pregnant can mean irreversible damage to a baby. Studies are now showing that a Father who uses drugs at the time of conception can also have negative, even life-threatening effects on the child. While a Father’s drug use cannot cause addiction in the child, it can mutate the DNA which has a direct result on the physical and mental capabilities of the child.

Deformities and retardation can be the result of the Father’s drug use. For years, the Mother was always assumed to be responsible when there was a child born with a deformity or reduced brain function. It is now known that is not always the case. Even if the Mother is drug-free, if the Father uses drugs, it can affect the child. The scope of problem has not yet been realized. Increased deformities have been established but studies are still ongoing.

Drug use or alcoholism by either parent can be detrimental to a conceived child. The Father’s role in birth defects as a result of drug use is being studied widely now. Young people are diagnosed with more and more mental and physical disorders which may be the direct result of the drug use of the Father. Mother’s who use drugs or alcohol while pregnant are now being brought up on criminal charges if the child is born addicted or with a disability. The time will come when the Fathers are brought in and tried for their role in a child’s disability. The responsibility must be fairly divided.

The DNA from both parents determines who the child is. Their eye color and their body formation all come from the combined DNA. A Father who is alcoholic or drug addicted at the time of conception may pass on inferior DNA to the child. This can result in a miscarriage, child deformities and retardation as well as documented cases of other troubles. It was once believed that alcohol or drug use would or could not effect a fetus, but it is now known that it can and does. In fact, any drug or alcohol use by the father within several months of conception can lead to a negative, even deadly effect on the baby.