WVU EXPERT WARNS: NO LEVEL OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, OR ILLICIT DRUG USE IS SAFE DURING PREGNANCY
When it comes to sports, athletes understand that discipline, sacrifice, and preparation determine success. The same principles apply to health and wellness, especially during one of life’s most critical stages—pregnancy. A recent warning from a leading West Virginia University (WVU) health expert has sparked vital conversation both on campus and beyond: no level of alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug use is safe during pregnancy.
The statement, though straightforward, carries enormous weight. In the same way a football team cannot afford to ignore a minor weakness on the field, expecting mothers cannot take chances with substances that directly affect fetal development. WVU’s research emphasizes that even “casual” or “occasional” use of alcohol, nicotine, or illicit drugs can pose lifelong risks for a child—ranging from developmental delays and learning disabilities to more severe conditions such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders or low birth weight.
Sports newspapers may seem an unlikely place for such health warnings, but the crossover is clear. Many student-athletes, fans, and alumni are young adults, some of whom are starting families or planning for the future. Just as coaches preach accountability and teamwork, WVU’s medical voices are urging communities to embrace responsibility when it comes to maternal and child health.
The expert’s stance dismantles myths still lingering in public culture—that a glass of wine here, a cigarette there, or “occasional” recreational drug use won’t matter. The truth, according to WVU, is that it does matter, and the consequences can last a lifetime.
Sports culture thrives on resilience and setting the foundation for long-term success. The same is true for pregnancy. An athlete wouldn’t sabotage their season by cutting corners in training. Likewise, no parent should risk undermining their child’s health before birth. WVU’s message is clear: the only safe level of alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drug use during pregnancy is zero.
As the Mountaineers prepare for their next big season, the takeaway from the medical field is a timely reminder—whether in sports or life, the smallest decisions can shape the biggest outcomes.
