The prevalence of chemical substance and alcohol abuse in an obstetric population in Dublin.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of illicit drug abuse and alcohol use in an obstetric population based in an urban maternity hospital.


METHODS
A collaborative study between the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin and the Irish National Drug Advisory & Treatment Centre.


METHODS
A prospective study consisting of anonymous, unlinked urine testing of 504 'first visit' antenatal patients and a separate group of 515 patients six weeks after delivery.


METHODS
Toxicological screening using enzyme-linked immunoassay techniques, with all positive samples being reanalysed. Drug histories were taken and samples were tested for alcohol and six of the most commonly abused drugs. The pre- and postnatal prevalence of abuse was matched with demographic data.


RESULTS
The prevalence of chemical substance misuse in the antenatal population was 2.8% and 5.6% in the postnatal population. Substances identified included benzodiazepines, cannabis, amphetamines, opiates and cocaine. Less than 2% of samples tested positive for alcohol. None of the women yielding positive samples had been pre-identified on the basis of history. A significant proportion of the women were in the high risk categories with regard to age and socio-economic status.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of drug misuse antenatally was nearly 3% and postnatally almost 6%. Substance abusers in pregnancy are more likely to be single, unemployed, and to have had a previous pregnancy.
Bosio
P
P
Rotunda Hospital, Dublin.
Keenan
E
E
Gleeson
R
R
Dorman
A
A
Clarke
T
T
Darling
M
M
O'Connor
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D010298:Parity; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015406:Single Parent; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*