Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Cocaine use in pregnancy

C H Fox1

  • 1Department of Family Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo.

The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice
|May 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Cocaine use during pregnancy harms mothers and fetuses, causing preterm labor, birth defects, and maternal complications. Early prenatal care and drug screening are crucial for improving birth outcomes.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Advancing a Global Oral Health Research Agenda.

Journal of dental research·2026
Same author

The IADR Policy and Position Statements on Safety of Dental Amalgam.

Journal of dental research·2026
Same author

Implementation Research Is Underdeveloped in Oral Health: Bridging the Gap.

Journal of dental research·2026
Same author

The Bangkok Declaration: A Global Mandate for Oral Health Research and Universal Health Coverage.

Journal of dental research·2026
Same author

The IADR Policy Statement on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Journal of dental research·2025
Same author

The AADOCR Position Statement on Topical Fluoride.

Journal of dental research·2025

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Neonatology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cocaine use during pregnancy poses significant risks to both mother and fetus.
  • Adverse outcomes include preterm labor, congenital anomalies, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), abruptio placenta, low birth weight, neonatal death, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
  • Maternal complications can include pre-eclampsia-like syndrome, pulmonary edema, seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, and sudden death.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on the pharmacology, pathophysiology, prevalence, demographics, and detection methods of cocaine use in pregnancy.
  • To inform family physicians practicing obstetrics about the risks and identification of cocaine abuse in pregnant patients.
  • To highlight the importance of early prenatal care in mitigating adverse birth outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A MEDLINE literature review from 1988 to the present was conducted.
  • The review synthesized information on the effects of cocaine on pregnancy and identified detection methods.
  • The study focused on clinical presentation and outcomes associated with maternal cocaine use.

Main Results:

  • Family physicians, particularly in urban minority settings, are likely to encounter pregnant women abusing cocaine.
  • Clinical signs of maternal cocaine use include dilated pupils, increased vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, respirations), and hyperreflexia.
  • Other maternal signs include agitated sensorium, arrhythmias, and seizures. Cocaine use is linked to preterm labor, pre-eclampsia, and acute pulmonary edema.

Conclusions:

  • Urine or meconium drug screening are established methods for detecting cocaine use in pregnancy.
  • Hair analysis is under research but not yet clinically reliable for cocaine detection.
  • Initiating prenatal care early is vital for improving birth outcomes in pregnancies affected by cocaine use.

Related Experiment Videos