Anonymous cocaine screening in a private obstetric population.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the prevalence of cocaine use in private obstetric patients during their prenatal care and at admission to delivery units.


METHODS
Urine samples were collected anonymously during routine sampling from 1425 patients in six private hospitals and four private physicians' offices.


RESULTS
Positive cocaine metabolites were identified in three of 555 urine specimens (0.54%) obtained from hospitals and in two of 870 (0.23%) obtained from private offices during prenatal examinations. The total positive urine cocaine results were five of 1425 (0.35%).


CONCLUSIONS
Universal screening in a private obstetric population similar to that found in Denver would not be cost-effective. We urge health care providers to ask patients about substance abuse and to screen patients who are at high risk for substance use.
Burke
M S
MS
Perinatal Resource Center, Swedish Medical Center, Englewood, CO.
Roth
D
D
D003042:Cocaine; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D011331:Private Practice; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D003042:Cocaine