Verena E Metz1, Qiana L Brown2, Silvia S Martins3, Joseph J Palamar4. 1. Friends Research Institute, Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address: vmetz@friendsresearch.org. 2. Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, New York, NY, USA; TrendologyIT Corporation, Baltimore, MD, USA. 3. Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, New York, NY, USA. 4. New York University Langone Medical Center, Department of Population Health, New York, NY, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The opioid epidemic in the US is affecting pregnant women and their offspring, with rising numbers of maternal and neonatal treatment episodes. The aim of this study was to characterize pregnant drug users in order to inform intervention strategies based on sociodemographic, mental health, and substance use characteristics. METHODS: Data on pregnant women aged 18-44 reporting past-year, nonmedical opioid use or use of non-opioid illegal drugs (other than marijuana) were analyzed from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2005-2014). Women (N = 818) were categorized into 3 groups: 1) use of opioids only (n = 281), 2) opioid-polydrug users (n = 241), and 3) other (non-opioid) illegal drug users (n = 296). Characteristics between the 3 groups of women were compared using bivariable analyses. RESULTS: Most women were non-Hispanic White (67.6%), had a high school diploma or less education (61.0%), a household income <$20,000/year (72.2%), and health insurance coverage (84.3%). No significant differences between the three groups were found regarding sociodemographic characteristics. Past-30-day marijuana use was less prevalent among opioid-only users (10.9%) compared to opioid-polydrug users (43.6%) and other pregnant illegal drug users (27.6%) (P < 0.001) and past-year drug/alcohol treatment was less prevalent among opioid-only users (6.3%) compared to opioid-polydrug users (20.3%) and other illegal drug users (8.3%) (P = 0.002). Opioid-only users also reported lower prevalence of past-year depression (P < 0.001) and anxiety (P = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant drug-using women were often of low socioeconomic status, with mental health and substance use patterns suggesting the need for targeted mental health/substance use screening and interventions before and during pregnancy, particularly for opioid-polydrug users.
BACKGROUND: The opioid epidemic in the US is affecting pregnant women and their offspring, with rising numbers of maternal and neonatal treatment episodes. The aim of this study was to characterize pregnant drug users in order to inform intervention strategies based on sociodemographic, mental health, and substance use characteristics. METHODS: Data on pregnant women aged 18-44 reporting past-year, nonmedical opioid use or use of non-opioid illegal drugs (other than marijuana) were analyzed from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2005-2014). Women (N = 818) were categorized into 3 groups: 1) use of opioids only (n = 281), 2) opioid-polydrug users (n = 241), and 3) other (non-opioid) illegal drug users (n = 296). Characteristics between the 3 groups of women were compared using bivariable analyses. RESULTS: Most women were non-Hispanic White (67.6%), had a high school diploma or less education (61.0%), a household income <$20,000/year (72.2%), and health insurance coverage (84.3%). No significant differences between the three groups were found regarding sociodemographic characteristics. Past-30-day marijuana use was less prevalent among opioid-only users (10.9%) compared to opioid-polydrug users (43.6%) and other pregnant illegal drug users (27.6%) (P < 0.001) and past-year drug/alcohol treatment was less prevalent among opioid-only users (6.3%) compared to opioid-polydrug users (20.3%) and other illegal drug users (8.3%) (P = 0.002). Opioid-only users also reported lower prevalence of past-year depression (P < 0.001) and anxiety (P = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant drug-using women were often of low socioeconomic status, with mental health and substance use patterns suggesting the need for targeted mental health/substance use screening and interventions before and during pregnancy, particularly for opioid-polydrug users.
Authors: D Jeffrey Newport; Shuang Ji; Qi Long; Bettina T Knight; Elizabeth B Zach; Elizabeth N Smith; Natalie J Morris; Zachary N Stowe Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2011-11-29 Impact factor: 4.384
Authors: Jean Y Ko; Sherry L Farr; Van T Tong; Andreea A Creanga; William M Callaghan Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol Date: 2015-03-12 Impact factor: 8.661
Authors: Ayman El-Mohandes; Allen A Herman; M Nabil El-Khorazaty; Pragathi S Katta; Davene White; Lawrence Grylack Journal: J Perinatol Date: 2003 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 2.521
Authors: Elizabeth C Ailes; April L Dawson; Jennifer N Lind; Suzanne M Gilboa; Meghan T Frey; Cheryl S Broussard; Margaret A Honein Journal: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Date: 2015-01-23 Impact factor: 17.586
Authors: Helena J V Rutherford; Sarah W Yip; Patrick D Worhunsky; Sohye Kim; Lane Strathearn; Marc N Potenza; Linda C Mayes Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2019-12-16 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Kelly C Young-Wolff; Varada Sarovar; Lue-Yen Tucker; Deborah Ansley; Nancy Goler; Amy Conway; Allison Ettenger; Tara R Foti; Qiana L Brown; Ellen T Kurtzman; Sara R Adams; Stacey E Alexeeff Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2022-06-01