title: Illicit drug use before and during pregnancy at a tertiary maternity hospital 2000-2006.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the prevalence of use of illicit drugs by women of reproductive age before and during pregnancy and the changes in rates of illicit drug use in pregnancy over recent years.
  
  
  METHODS
  All pregnant women attending the public antenatal clinic over a 7 year period (2000-2006) were routinely interviewed about their use of illicit drugs by a midwife at the antenatal booking visit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records for 25,049 women, who self-reported previous and current use of cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy and heroin, were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cannabis was the most common illicit drug used before and during pregnancy; 9.3% of women were engaged in regular use prior to pregnancy and 2.5% were users during pregnancy. A very low proportion of women reported use of amphetamines, ecstasy or heroin in pregnancy. There was an increase in ever regular use and any past use of cannabis, amphetamines and ecstasy over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of illicit drug use by young women prior to becoming pregnant is of concern. While pregnancy appears to be a strong motivator for women to cease substance use, there is a need to study whether women resume drug use after their baby is born.
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia. m.hayatbakhsh@sph.uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Mohammad R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hayatbakhsh
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kingsbury
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Flenady
authors.forename: Kristen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Gilshenan
authors.forename: Delyse M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: Jake M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Najman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D057566:Self Report; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs