Serious psychological distress and cannabis use among pregnant women in the United States: Findings from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, 2015-2018

Exploring the associations between serious psychological distress and the quantity or frequency of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use among pregnant women in the United States

Serious Psychological Distress (SPD) and prenatal exposure to substances are associated with adverse outcomes for pregnant individuals and their developing offspring. This study aims to examine the relationship between SPD and quantity, or frequency of substance use among pregnant women in the United States (US). Descriptive and negative binomial regression analyses of the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were conducted among 3373 pregnant women (18 to 44 years old) to examine the association between SPD and (1) average number of cigarettes smoked in the past 30 days, (2) number of days of binge drinking in the past 30 days, and (3) number of days of cannabis use in the past 30 days. About 6% of the study population experienced SPD in the past 30 days. Compared to pregnant women who did not report SPD, pregnant women experiencing SPD showed greater rates in the number of cigarettes smoked during the past 30 days (IRR = 2.1, 95%CI = 1.1, 4.5), the number of days of binge drinking in the past 30 days (IRR = 5.1, 95%CI = 1.7, 15.4), and the number of days of cannabis use in the past 30 days (IRR = 2.9, 95%CI = 1.3, 6.5). Our results extend findings from prior research by documenting an association between SPD and the quantity and frequency of substance use among pregnant women in the US. Individual and structural interventions addressing SPD and/or substance might help reduce the impact of these comorbid conditions on expectant parents and their offspring.

"It's so Natural It Goes Hand in Hand": A Qualitative Study of Maternal Perceptions of Cannabis Use during Pregnancy

As the market continues to embrace marijuana as a holistic product, perceptions about its uses are increasingly contradictory to public health recommendations. The purpose of this research was to qualitatively analyze the perceived risks and benefits of cannabis use during pregnancy via in-depth semi-structured interviews conducted with nine women. This research is intended to inform patient-provider interactions regarding cannabis use in prenatal clinical settings.