Drug-taking behaviours of pregnant substance abusers in treatment

The purpose of this research was twofold: to describe the types of drugs and alcohol abused by pregnant multisubstance abusers enrolled in a substance abuse and treatment programme, and to describe the types of changes in drug-taking behaviours during pregnancy. An exploratory study, including interviews and chart reviews, was conducted with 31 pregnant multisubstance abusers. Drug-taking behaviours, demographic factors of age, ethnicity, martial status, education, and pregnancy characteristics of gravida, living children, level of prenatal care and trimester of pregnancy were measured. Most of the women were in their Twenties, Hispanic, single and had some high school education. Most of the women were multiparas to grand multiparas, yet they had only one or two living children, and all were receiving prenatal care. Their self-reports were validated by urine screening. Generally, the women reported that they did change their drug-taking behaviours, and many women decreased their substance abuse.