NCJ Number
155863
Journal
New England Journal of Medicine Volume: 322 Issue: 17 Dated: (April 26, 1990) Pages: 1202-1206
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
To estimate the prevalence of substance abuse by pregnant women, urine samples were collected from pregnant women who enrolled for prenatal care at public health clinics or private obstetrical offices in Pinellas County, Florida.
Abstract
Toxicological screening was performed for 715 pregnant women for alcohol, opiates, cocaine and its metabolites, and cannabinoids using an enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique. Among the 715 pregnant women, the overall prevalence of a positive result on toxicological urine tests was 14.8 percent. There was little difference in prevalence between women seen at public health clinics (16.3 percent) and those seen at private obstetrical offices (13.1 percent). The frequency of a positive result was also similar among white women (15.4 percent) and black women (14.1 percent). Black women more frequently evidenced cocaine use (7.5 percent versus 1.8 percent for white women), whereas white women more frequently evidenced cannabinoid use (14.4 percent vesus 6 percent for black women). During the 6- month period in which urine samples were collected, 133 women in Pinellas County were reported to health authorities after delivery for substance abuse during pregnancy. Black women were reported at approximately 10 times the rate for white women, and poor women were more likely than others to be reported. The authors conclude that the use of illicit drugs is common among pregnant women regardless of race and socioeconomic status. 20 references and 3 tables