Addiction in Pregnancy

ABSTRACT Substance abuse in pregnancy has increased over the past three decades in the United States, resulting in approximately 225,000 infants yearly with prenatal exposure to illicit substances. Routine screening and the education of women of child bearing age remain the most important ways to reduce addiction in pregnancy. Legal and illegal substances and their effect on pregnancy discussed in this review include opiates, cocaine, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and amphetamines. Most literature regarding opiate abuse is derived from clinical experience with heroin and methadone. Poor obstetric outcomes can be up to six times higher in patients abusing opiates. Neonatal care must be specialized to treat symptoms of withdrawal. Cocaine use in pregnancy can lead to spontaneous abortion, preterm births, placental abruption, and congenital anomalies. Neonatal issues include poor feeding, lethargy, and seizures. Mothers using cocaine require specialized prenatal care and the neonate may require extra supporti...