Pregnancy Among Women with a History of Injection Drug Use

Abstract

SUMMARY The reproductive histories of women who use drugs have received little attention in spite of risks associated with drug use during pregnancy and the high risk settings in which children of drug users are raised. This study describes the epidemiology of pregnancy and related drug use among African-American and White women injection drug users. Almost all of the study sample had been pregnant and most used drugs during pregnancy. Treatment programs should provide multifaceted interventions that include family planning, prenatal care, and parenting skills to reduce the negative effects of drug use on mothers and children in this population.