CRACK: A NOVA EPIDEMIA OBSTÉTRICA CRACK: THE NEW OBSTETRIC EPIDEMIC Artigo de Revisão

The use of illicit substances in pregnancy has become a rising issue in obstetric practice. There is a significant increase of crack cocaine use during pregnancy in Brazil. Crack cocaine is the smoked presentation of cocaine. Cocaine is an alkaloid ether extracted from the leaves of Erythroxylum coca. Cocaine use, in all its presentation forms, is associated with serious adverse effects for the pregnant woman and the newborn such as maternal cardiovascular events, abruptio placentae, prematurity, stillborns, and intrauterine growth restriction. The objective of this review article is to present the effects of crack cocaine and cocaine use in pregnancy and to suggest a guideline for investigation and management of these patients during pregnancy and puerperium.