Drug dependence during pregnancy. Effect of an on-site support group.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the clinical and economic efficacy of an on-site support group for drug-abusing pregnant women enrolled in an urban, hospital-based obstetric clinic.


METHODS
Maternal and neonatal outcomes and medical cost data were compared for drug-abusing pregnant women who attended (n = 54) and did not attend (n = 67) a weekly substance abuse support group in the obstetric clinic.


RESULTS
Clinical and economic outcomes were more favorable for support group attenders than nonattenders. Specifically, infants of support group attenders had higher birth weights and better 1-minute Apgar scores. In addition, average short-term medical care costs were nearly $1,000 (maternal) and > $1,500 (infant/neonatal) lower for support group attenders as compared to nonattenders.


CONCLUSIONS
Support group attendance was associated with short-term clinical and economic benefits that are likely to translate into longer-term cost savings. The findings suggest that a weekly substance abuse support group can provide low-cost, well-accepted and effective therapeutic services for this high-risk population of women.
Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. dacecap@aol.com
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Svikis
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McCaul
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Stuart
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D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome