Methamphetamine Use in Pregnant Women in Hawai'i: A Case Series

Methamphetamine use is widespread among pregnant and reproductive-aged women in Hawai'i. Women who use methamphetamine require comprehensive care that is gender specific and tailored to their needs. In Hawai'i, more services are needed to solve this serious public health problem. The authors present three cases of methamphetamine use with negative maternal and fetal outcomes. The first case describes a pregnant woman with daily methamphetamine use who experienced cardiac arrest with subsequent preterm delivery and maternal death due to global anoxic brain injury. The second case describes a pregnant woman with daily methamphetamine use which exacerbated her chronic hypertension and led to intrauterine fetal demise. The third case describes a pregnant woman with current methamphetamine use who experienced preeclampsia and a cerebrovascular accident necessitating preterm delivery. Methamphetamine remains a serious public health concern for the United States and especially in the state of Hawai'i.