Scope, Specifics of Maternal Drug Use, Effects on Fetus Are Beginning to Emerge From Studies

Abstract

LIMITED DATA are available on the number of women in the United States who use drugs during pregnancy or on the number of babies born with drugassociated defects. Studies conducted so far have been small and there has not been much uniformity of approach, according to Edgar Adams, PhD, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Rockville, Md. 15% Substance Abuse? The NIDA researchers estimate that of 56 million American women between 15 and 44 years of age, 15% (or about 8 million) are currently substance abusers. These findings, organized for a New York Academy of Sciences conference (NY Academy Sci. 1988;3:1,10-11), are based on data extracted from the 1985 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, conducted by the NIDA on 8038 households (DHHS publication no.[ADM]88-1586). Drug use appears from the agency's data to be increasing. Of women aged 18 years and over, some 5 640 000 used marijuana in 1985—an