Abstract
Prenatal substance use is a critical public health concern that is linked with several harmful maternal and fetal consequences. The most frequently used substance in pregnancy is tobacco, followed by alcohol, cannabis and other illicit substances. Unfortunately, polysubstance use in pregnancy is common, as well as psychiatric comorbidity, environmental stressors, and limited and disrupted parental care, all of which can compound deleterious maternal and fetal outcomes. There are few existing treatments for prenatal substance use and these mainly comprise behavioral and psychosocial interventions. Contingency management has been shown to be the most efficacious of these. The purpose of this review is to examine the recent literature on the prenatal use of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, stimulants, and opioids, including the effects of these on maternal and fetal health and the current therapeutic options.
Highlights
In the United States, women comprise 40% of those with a lifetime drug use disorder and 26% of those who meet criteria for both an alcohol and drug use disorder during the prior 12 months[1]
Women are at highest risk for developing a substance use disorder during their reproductive years (18–44), especially ages 18–292. means that women who are pregnant or soon to become pregnant are at increased risk for substance abuse
The purpose of this review is to provide a brief overview of the pregnancy outcomes, neonatal and long-term developmental consequences of prenatal substance use, and current available treatments for pregnant women
Summary
In the United States, women comprise 40% of those with a lifetime drug use disorder and 26% of those who meet criteria for both an alcohol and drug use disorder during the prior 12 months[1]. The purpose of this review is to provide a brief overview of the pregnancy outcomes, neonatal and long-term developmental consequences of prenatal substance use, and current available treatments for pregnant women. Adverse effects of substance use in pregnancy Heavy alcohol use in pregnancy has been associated with a range of negative birth outcomes, including increased risks of miscarriage[19], stillbirth and infant mortality[20,21], congenital anomalies[22], low birthweight[23], reduced gestational age[24], preterm delivery[25], and small-for-gestational age[22,26,27]. An intervention that promotes lactation and intimacy through skin-to-skin contact may enhance stable attachment, and have the intergenerational benefit of protecting offspring from the development of addictive and other problematic behaviors[120,122,123]
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