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Updated: Sep 10, 2025

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Trends in Prenatal Polysubstance Exposure

Cynthia Nichols1, Margaret Lloyd Sieger1

  • 1School of Social Work, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT.

Families in Society : the Journal of Contemporary Human Services
|August 27, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Polysubstance use during pregnancy is increasing, raising child maltreatment risks. Each additional substance detected significantly elevates the odds of a maltreatment report, highlighting the number of substances as a key factor.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Neonatal Health
  • Substance Use Disorders

Background:

  • Polysubstance use, termed the "fourth wave" of the opioid epidemic, presents rising challenges.
  • Prenatal exposure to multiple substances increases health and safety risks for infants and caregivers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between polysubstance exposures and child maltreatment reports.
  • To identify factors contributing to maltreatment concerns in infants with prenatal substance exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Child Abuse and Prevention Treatment Act (CAPTA) notifications in Connecticut.
  • Investigated the co-occurrence of polysubstance exposures and child maltreatment allegations.
  • Statistical analysis controlling for maternal age, infant demographics, and toxicology methods.

Main Results:

  • Sixteen percent of CAPTA notifications involved polysubstance exposures.
  • Cases with polysubstance exposure averaged 2.39 substances (range 2-7).
  • Each additional substance increased maltreatment report odds by 2.5 times.

Conclusions:

  • The total number of substances in prenatal exposure is a significant predictor of maltreatment reports.
  • Findings underscore the critical need for interventions addressing polysubstance use in pregnancy.
  • Increased vigilance and support are necessary for infants exposed to multiple substances prenatally.

Keywords:
CAPTAChild MaltreatmentPrenatal Substance Exposure

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