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Drug dependence during pregnancy. Effect of an on-site support group
1Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. dacecap@aol.com
Objective:
To examine the clinical and economic efficacy of an on-site support group for drug-abusing pregnant women enrolled in an urban, hospital-based obstetric clinic.
Study Design:
Maternal and neonatal outcomes and medical cost data were compared for drug-abusing pregnant women who attended (n = 54) and did not attend (n = 67) a weekly substance abuse support group in the obstetric clinic.
Results:
Clinical and economic outcomes were more favorable for support group attenders than nonattenders. Specifically, infants of support group attenders had higher birth weights and better 1-minute Apgar scores. In addition, average short-term medical care costs were nearly $1,000 (maternal) and > $1,500 (infant/neonatal) lower for support group attenders as compared to nonattenders.
Conclusion:
Support group attendance was associated with short-term clinical and economic benefits that are likely to translate into longer-term cost savings. The findings suggest that a weekly substance abuse support group can provide low-cost, well-accepted and effective therapeutic services for this high-risk population of women.