Substance abuse in an Irish antenatal population

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Substance abuse presents significant risks to both individuals and caregivers.
• Pregnancy introduces additional complexities and potential complications related to substance abuse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of substance abuse within an antenatal population in Ireland.
• To compare the effectiveness of anonymous questionnaires versus urine toxicology screening in identifying substance abuse.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous questionnaire and urine toxicology screening were administered to 522 women in an antenatal setting.
• Demographic features of participants were analyzed to identify any typical patient profiles.

Main Results:

• 18 women (3.4%) presented with positive urine toxicology results for substance abuse.
• The anonymous questionnaire failed to identify all women who tested positive via urine screening.
• No distinct demographic profile emerged among women with substance abuse.

Conclusions:

• The study likely underestimated the true prevalence of substance abuse in the antenatal population due to various contributing factors.
• Accurate quantification of substance abuse in pregnancy remains challenging.
• Future efforts should prioritize education and prevention strategies for substance abuse during pregnancy.