Prenatal tobacco and marijuana use among adolescents: effects on offspring gestational age, growth, and morphology.
OBJECTIVE
This longitudinal study examined the effects of tobacco and marijuana use during pregnancy on the gestational age, growth, and morphology of 310 offspring of adolescents. Data were collected during 1990 through 1993.


METHODS
The adolescents were drawn from a prenatal clinic in Pittsburgh, PA. They were interviewed at mid-pregnancy and at delivery to obtain information on tobacco, marijuana, and other substance use before and during pregnancy. Infants were examined 24 to 36 hours after birth.


RESULTS
The average maternal age was 16.1 (range 12 to 18 years); 70% were African-American. Prenatal tobacco use was associated with reduced birth weight, length, head and chest circumferences, and ponderal index, but not gestational age or the number of morphological abnormalities. Prenatal marijuana exposure was associated with reduced gestational age. Among whites, first trimester marijuana exposure was associated with an increased rate of minor physical anomalies. Prenatal marijuana exposure was not associated with any growth outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
These effects of prenatal tobacco and marijuana use were prominent despite lower levels of prenatal exposure in the offspring of adolescent mothers as compared with the offspring of adult mothers from the same clinic. Young maternal age may increase the offspring's risk of negative effects from prenatal tobacco and marijuana exposure.
Cornelius
M D
MD
Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Taylor
P M
PM
Geva
D
D
Day
N L
NL
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology