In this lesson, we reviewed the effects of teratogens on prenatal development. We learned that not only does the use of these drugs during pregnancy have implications for the baby’s development at birth and prenatally, but it can also have long-term implications for development.
For this lesson’s activity, you will be writing a reaction paper using the Bierce et al. (2023) article that was assigned for this lesson. This article looks at the effects of maternal use of opioids and other substances during pregnancy on infant’s development.
Step 1: Read Assigned Article
First, read the following article: Bierce, L., Tabachnick, A. R., Eiden, R. D., Dozeir, M., & Labella, M. H. (2023). A 12-month follow-up of infant neurodevelopmental outcomes of prenatal opioid exposure and polysubstance useLinks to an external site.. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 97, 1–5.
Step 2: Craft a Short Introductory Paragraph
To start your paper, provide a short introductory paragraph.
Step 3: Address Part 1 in Your Paper
Next, for Part 1, answer the following questions:
- Summarize the main findings from the article and relate it back to the course material presented this lesson. Specifically, what did the authors find in relation to prenatal opioid and alcohol use on later development?
- Identify the strengths and weaknesses of this study (Think back to the material presented in Lesson 02: Research Methods in Infant Development and refer to this material.).
Step 4: Address Part 2 in Your Paper
For the second part of your paper, please provide your reaction to the article. This is your chance to be creative and critically evaluate the research, while providing support from the lesson and article to back up your ideas.
- How do the findings relate to your own life experiences, your own experiences as an infant, experiences of those that you know with infants, or aspects you have read or heard about in the news? (Note: Although the article focused on certain teratogens, feel free to discuss your thoughts in regards to all information about teratogens presented in this lesson.).
- Based on what we learned in this article, what advice or recommendations would you give to parents about the effects of teratogens on prenatal and infant development (Again, this can be more general and focus on all types of teratogens.).
- What suggestions do you have for continued work investigating the effects of teratogens on prenatal and infant development based on what we learned in this lesson (i.e., What do you want to know more about?).
Step 5: Craft a Short Concluding Paragraph
Finally, to wrap things up in your paper, provide a short concluding paragraph.
Format
Make sure that your paper includes good writing quality, integration of course material, and evidence of critical thinking. Your paper should be at least 3-4 pages in length, and you should use a size-12 font. Also, your paper should adhere to APA style.