Demographic and Substance Abuse Trends Among Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women: Eleven Years of Treatment Admission Data

The objective of this study was to identify demographic and substance abuse trends among pregnant women entering treatment
over eleven years. This study compiled the publicly available Treatment Episode Datasets from the Substance Abuse Mental Health
Services Administration from 1998 to 2008. Subjects included 1,724,479 women entering publicly funded substance abuse treatment
for the first time, 81,818 of whom were pregnant. Compared to non-pregnant women, pregnant women were more likely to be younger,
minority, never married, less educated, homeless, and on public-assistance or have no income. Referrals from health care providers
(HCPs) among pregnant women entering treatment have stayed consistently low while referrals from the criminal justice system
accounted for the largest portion of pregnant women entering treatment. Over the past eleven years, there has been a general
decline in alcohol abuse and an increase in drug abuse among women entering treatment; this trend was more pronounced in pregnant
women. Unlike their non-pregnant counterparts, pregnant women were more likely to report marijuana, not alcohol, as their
primary problem substance as well as other drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine. Over the past eleven years, trends in the
demographics and patterns of substance abuse among women have changed; some of these trends were unique to pregnant women.
A large proportion of pregnant women entering treatment are referred by the criminal justice system. Knowledge surrounding
the demographics and abuse patterns of pregnant women entering treatment can inform HCPs and community programs in their screening
and outreach efforts.