title: Drug abuse in an obstetric population of a midsized city.
abstract: Drug abuse during pregnancy has attracted national attention, but most studies are from large cities. This study is concerned with the indigent pregnant patients in a midsized city in the southeastern United States. In a 23-month study, 2,442 patients were delivered of neonates. Using specific criteria, 511 patients were tested for drug abuse. A positive test was identified in 156 (31%), cocaine being the most common agent. During 2 months of random testing, 15 patients (16%) had positive drug screens. Comparison of drug-positive pregnant patients with general obstetric patients identified many adverse obstetric and perinatal outcome data. Drug-positive patients weighed less, were older, were prone to not seek prenatal care, and were more likely to deliver prematurely and have a growth-retarded infant. Drug abuse in this population had significant impact on the health of the patient and her unborn infant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30910.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hawthorne
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Maier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000661:Amphetamine; D001463:Barbiturates; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002188:Cannabis; D003042:Cocaine; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009294:Narcotics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D001463:Barbiturates; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D009294:Narcotics; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000661:Amphetamine; D003042:Cocaine