Drug Use during Pregnancy

Abstract

Prevention and intervention services for pregnant, drug-using women have often developed prior to gaining empirical data on the antecedents of prenatal drug use. These data are important to address some of the underlying factors of drug use during pregnancy. A review of the literature indentified at least six categories of psychosocial risk factors that have been investigated as relevant to drug use among women, including pregnant women. These factors include: (1) history of childhood sexual abuse, (2) family history of alcohol or drug problems, (3) male partner's alcohol or drug use, (4) current depression, (5) social support, and (6) homelessness or transiency. An examination of these psychosocial risk factors indicates that the existing literature on these factors in drug use is limited by a lack of methodological rigor, resulting in large variations in prevalence rates due to factors such as definition. This paper summarizes the existing literature and methodological iussues regarding the relation between psychosocial risk factors and drug use among women, including pregnant women. It also discusses some of the limitations and issues in assessing prenatal drug use with a particular focus on self-report and urine toxicologies.