Racial Differences in Substance Use Patterns During Pregnancy [23C

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Substance use during pregnancy remains a significant public health problem. Studies have reported racial differences in substance use, however this has not been addressed in the pregnant population. This study describes associations between maternal race and substance use patterns in pregnancy. METHODS: A retrospective study of singleton births from August 2013 through December 2014 was conducted using universal urine drug screen (UDS) collected at the initiation of prenatal care. Excluded were multiple gestations and preterm deliveries. The data is shown by frequency of substance use (no use, any use, use of specific substances) and maternal race (Caucasian, African American, Asian). RESULTS: 2,270 patients met study criteria. There were 1,030 (45%) Caucasians, 802 (35%) African Americans, and 117 (5%) Asians identified. Caucasian and African Americans had approximately the same rates of substance use, 30.0% and 32.5% respectively. It is notable that 93.1% of African Americans with a positive UDS were positive for only THC, compared to 63.8% of Caucasians. Polysubstance use was much higher in Caucasians than any other racial group, with 31.7% of Caucasian users positive for opiates, 12.0% for benzos, and 5.8% for cocaine. No Asians had a positive UDS. CONCLUSION: Our study addresses the racial differences of substance use during pregnancy, specifically detailing the substances used. Our study strongly suggests the need for local and state initiatives to better understand the racial trends for substance use in pregnancy in order to tailor prenatal care interventions that optimize pregnancy outcomes.