Cocaine and pregnancy: a challenge for health care providers

There is an alarming increase in the number of individuals using cocaine in this country. As many as 10 percent of all pregnant women have used cocaine one or more times during their pregnancy. The rising number of pregnant cocaine abusers who present themselves for medical services is creating a challenge for health care practitioners. This article addresses the biopsychosocial issues of cocaine abuse during pregnancy, including the medical impact of cocaine abuse on pregnant women and their newborn infants, behavioral manifestations of cocaine abusers that create health care management problems, and social work's contribution to the health care management of these women.