In the quiet corridors of the Guillermo Tejas Silva polyclinic in Las Tunas, Cuba, the struggle against addiction often takes on a devastatingly visible form. For one young woman, now more than 30 weeks pregnant, the battle has been a cycle of hope and relapse. Despite the biological imperative of motherhood and the desperate pleas of her family, the grip of synthetic cannabinoids—locally known as “químico”—proved stronger than logic or love.
Her case is not an isolated tragedy but a symptom of a burgeoning public health crisis. Medical professionals in the region are reporting a sharp, alarming increase in droga y embarazo (drug apply and pregnancy), specifically involving synthetic substances that are infiltrating younger populations. What was once a rare occurrence in the province has evolved into a complex clinical challenge that is forcing the healthcare system to rewrite its protocols in real-time.
As a board-certified physician, I have seen how substance abuse complicates every facet of prenatal care. However, the emergence of synthetic cannabinoids presents a particularly volatile variable. These substances do not just affect the mother’s mood or appetite; they alter the very chemistry of the womb, placing both the gestating parent and the developing fetus on a precarious edge.
A Rising Tide of High-Risk Gestations
The statistical shift in Las Tunas is stark. According to local health records, the province reported only one case of a pregnant woman struggling with addiction in 2024, which involved medication. By 2025, that number rose to two, resulting in one spontaneous abortion and one elective termination. The trajectory accelerated violently in early 2026; in just the first two months of the year, four cases of pregnant drug users were recorded. While one resulted in a spontaneous abortion, the others are attempting to carry their pregnancies to term—a goal that clinicians describe as exceptionally difficult.
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Dr. Dianelis Menzoney Justiz, who manages a Basic Working Group at the Guillermo Tejas Silva polyclinic, emphasizes that treating these patients requires immense patience. “They are sick; the drug is what controls them,” she explains, noting that these patients experience diverse emotional swings. For Dr. Menzoney Justiz, the hardest part is witnessing the collateral damage: the grief of mothers and the looming uncertainty of the child’s future pathologies due to direct drug exposure.
This trend reflects a broader, more dangerous shift in social perception. Experts in the territory indicate that the perceived risk of drug use has diminished among the youth, leading to a normalization of experimentation that often spirals into dependency.
The Clinical Architecture of ‘Extremely Grave’ Care
When a pregnant woman with a known or suspected addiction enters the health system, she is immediately categorized as “extremely grave” until proven otherwise. This classification triggers a massive, multidisciplinary response designed to prevent catastrophic outcomes.
Dr. Rabiel Cárdenas Peña, head of the Commission for the Care of the Extremely Grave Maternal Patient and the Provincial Group of Gynecology and Obstetrics, describes a complex “gear” of specialists that must work in unison. This team typically includes:
- Obstetricians and Toxicologists: To manage the pregnancy and the chemical exposure.
- Psychiatrists and Psychologists: To address the mental health crisis and dependency.
- Intensivists and Cardiologists: To monitor vital organ stability.
- Nephrologists and Hematologists: To manage blood chemistry and kidney function.
The risks associated with “químico” are particularly aggressive. Dr. Cárdenas Peña notes that these cases are frequently marked by hemorrhagic complications, increased hypertension, and a higher predisposition to thrombophilia (blood clotting disorders). Because these substances are relatively new to the regional clinical landscape, doctors are essentially mapping the territory as they move.
In the first trimester, the health protocol identifies drug use as a valid cause for the interruption of pregnancy due to the severe risks to the fetus. For those not yet pregnant but identified as users, clinicians prioritize the provision of contraceptives to ensure that any future pregnancy occurs only after a successful period of deshabituación (detoxification).
The First Cry: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
The danger does not end with delivery; for the infant, birth marks the beginning of a different kind of struggle. Dr. Lenny Carbonell García, a neonatologist and head of the service at Hospital Guevara, explains that while babies are not born “addicts” in the traditional sense, they are born in a state of active detoxification.
This condition, known medically as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), can manifest as extreme irritability, convulsions, somnolence, and respiratory distress. In some cases, the withdrawal is so severe that it can be fatal.
Dr. Carbonell García recalls a case involving a mother with alcohol addiction who hid her history from the staff. The infant remained dependent on a ventilator for an extended period due to extreme irritability and a constant state of hyper-vigilance. The neonatologist warns that the birth of a child exposed to synthetic cannabinoids is an impending reality for which the hospital is currently establishing protocols.
the treatment of the mother often complicates the baby’s recovery. To manage psychotic episodes or severe withdrawal in the mother, clinicians must sometimes use psychotropic medications. This creates a risk-benefit dilemma, as the fetus may then develop a secondary withdrawal from the very medications used to stabilize the mother.
The Long-Term Unknowns
One of the most harrowing aspects of this crisis is the lack of longitudinal data. Because synthetic cannabinoids are a “new phenomenon” in Cuba, doctors cannot yet say with certainty how these children will develop. The medical community is left with haunting questions regarding immunodevelopment and neurological milestones: Will these children walk on time? Will their speech be normal? Will they face cognitive delays?
Physiologically, addiction in women is often more difficult to manage than in men, making the path to sobriety steeper. Because the placenta allows the fetus to consume the drug at the same rate as the mother, the biological bond becomes a conduit for toxicity.
| Year | Reported Cases | Primary Substance/Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | Medication addiction |
| 2025 | 2 | 1 Spontaneous abortion / 1 Termination |
| 2026 (Jan-Feb) | 4 | 1 Spontaneous abortion / 3 Ongoing gestations |
As the province of Las Tunas develops a localized protocol involving pediatric psychiatry and genetics, these efforts are intended to serve as a blueprint for a potential national strategy. The goal is to shift the equation—moving from reactive crisis management to a proactive society that protects the womb from the influence of synthetic drugs.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use during pregnancy, please seek immediate professional medical assistance.
The next phase of clinical monitoring will focus on the outcomes of the current high-risk gestations in Las Tunas, providing the first real-world data on the survival and neonatal health of infants exposed to synthetic cannabinoids in the region.
We invite you to share this story and abandon your comments below to help raise awareness about the risks of synthetic substances in maternal health.
