Prenatal effects of parental substance use. It has been estimated that every year during the prenatal period, children are exposed to the use of illicit substances by their mothers. Exposure to these substances is often the first time children experience the negative effects of parental substance abuse. Physiologically, the numbers for substance use disorders are significant and we need to pay attention to them. Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health suggests that in the past year, 20 or more people suffered from substance use disorders. of these cases were attributed to alcohol.