Adolescent pregnancy and substance use.
OBJECTIVE
To review the literature on adolescent pregnancy and substance use for the purpose of identifying practice and research implications.


METHODS
Computerized searches were done using MEDLINE and CINAHL, as well as references cited in the articles reviewed. Key words used in the search were adolescent pregnancy and substance use; teen pregnancy and substance abuse; adolescent risk behaviors; pregnant adolescent and drug addiction; and perinatal substance use.


METHODS
Articles and comprehensive works from indexed journals in the English language published after 1986 were reviewed.


METHODS
Data were extracted and organized using these headings: motivation for drug use; common drugs used; cigarette smoking; alcohol; and other drugs.


RESULTS
This review identifies factors associated with drug use in adolescent pregnancy, risk factors for the teenaged mother and her developing fetus, and suggestions of health care providers who have studied adolescent pregnancy and substance use.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses who care for pregnant adolescents are in an ideal position to assess for signs and symptoms of substance abuse, provide education, initiate interventions and referrals, and provide follow-up care. Early identification of substance abuse is a key factor in the prevention of pregnancy complications and poor fetal outcome.
Richardson
K K
KK
University of Hawaii at Manoa, School of Nursing, 96822, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology