May 21, 2009 |
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Combined 2002 to 2007 data show that past month alcohol use among women aged 18 to 44 was highest for those who were not pregnant and did not have children living in the household (63.0 percent) (Figure 1). The rate was comparatively low for those in the first trimester of pregnancy (19.0 percent) and even lower for those in the second (7.8 percent) or third (6.2 percent) trimester. There were similar patterns across these four subgroups of women for past month binge alcohol use (Figure 2), cigarette use (Figure 3), and marijuana use (Figure 4).
Pregnancy Trimester and Age of the Youngest Child in Household |
Percent |
---|---|
NP,* No Child | 63.0% |
Trimester 1 | 19.0% |
Trimester 2 | 7.8% |
Trimester 3 | 6.2% |
NP, Child <3 months | 31.9% |
NP, Child 3-5 months | 43.9% |
NP, Child 6-8 months | 46.4% |
NP, Child 9-11 months | 52.1% |
NP, Child 12-14 months | 49.4% |
NP, Child 15-17 months | 54.9% |
NP, Child 18+ months | 52.1% |
* NP = Nonpregnant |
Source: 2002 to 2007 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Pregnancy Trimester and Age of the Youngest Child in Household |
Percent |
---|---|
NP,** No Child | 32.6% |
Trimester 1 | 8.0% |
Trimester 2 | 1.8% |
Trimester 3 | 1.0% |
NP, Child <3 months | 10.0% |
NP, Child 3-5 months | 15.5% |
NP, Child 6-8 months | 14.6% |
NP, Child 9-11 months | 16.9% |
NP, Child 12-14 months | 17.6% |
NP, Child 15-17 months | 16.8% |
NP, Child 18+ months | 19.7% |
* Binge alcohol use is defined as drinking five or more drinks at the same time or within a couple of hours on at least 1 day in the past 30 days. |
** NP = Nonpregnant |
Source: 2002 to 2007 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Pregnancy Trimester and Age of the Youngest Child in Household |
Percent |
---|---|
NP,* No Child | 33.3% |
Trimester 1 | 21.8% |
Trimester 2 | 14.4% |
Trimester 3 | 13.9% |
NP, Child <3 months | 20.4% |
NP, Child 3-5 months | 22.3% |
NP, Child 6-8 months | 25.2% |
NP, Child 9-11 months | 24.1% |
NP, Child 12-14 months | 23.7% |
NP, Child 15-17 months | 27.1% |
NP, Child 18+ months | 30.3% |
* NP = Nonpregnant |
Source: 2002 to 2007 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
Pregnancy Trimester and Age of the Youngest Child in Household |
Percent |
---|---|
NP,* No Child | 10.9% |
Trimester 1 | 4.6% |
Trimester 2 | 2.9% |
Trimester 3 | 1.4% |
NP, Child <3 months | 3.8% |
NP, Child 3-5 months | 4.3% |
NP, Child 6-8 months | 5.0% |
NP, Child 9-11 months | 5.3% |
NP, Child 12-14 months | 4.7% |
NP, Child 15-17 months | 4.1% |
NP, Child 18+ months | 3.8% |
* NP = Nonpregnant |
Source: 2002 to 2007 SAMHSA National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs). |
When compared with women in the third trimester of pregnancy, nonpregnant women with children under 3 months old in the household had much higher rates of past month alcohol use (6.2 vs. 31.9 percent), binge alcohol use (1.0 vs. 10.0 percent), cigarette use (13.9 vs. 20.4 percent), and marijuana use (1.4 vs. 3.8 percent) (Figures 1-4), suggesting resumption of use among mothers in the 3 months after childbirth.
The increase in rates of substance use among parenting women tended to level off as the age of the youngest child increased. For alcohol, past month use increased from 31.9 percent for women with children under 3 months old to 43.9 percent for those with 3 to 5 month olds and 52.1 percent for those with 9 to 11 month olds; thereafter, the rate ranged from 49.4 to 54.9 percent, not significantly different from the rate among women with 9 to 11 month olds (Figure 1). The rate of binge alcohol use was 15.5 percent among women whose youngest children were aged 3 to 5 months and 19.7 percent for those whose youngest children were aged 18 months or older (Figure 2). Cigarette use among parenting women increased to 30.3 percent for those whose youngest children were aged 18 months or older (Figure 3), but for marijuana, there was no significant increase in use among women who had children aged 3 months or older (Figure 4).
These data provide indirect evidence of dramatic increases in the prevalence of substance use among mothers with babies under 3 months old based on cross-sectional reports from pregnant, parenting, and nonpregnant women. This increase implies a resumption of substance use following childbirth because new initiation of substance use among postpartum women is too rare to account for the observed differences.
Alcohol, cigarette, and illicit drug use during pregnancy can cause poor pregnancy outcomes and early childhood behavioral and development problems. The findings in this report suggest that many U.S. women, particularly those in the third trimester, are getting the message and abstaining from substance use. Still, a sizeable proportion of women in the first trimester of pregnancy were past month users of alcohol, cigarettes, or marijuana, and one in seven women used cigarettes in the second or third trimester. In addition, many women are resuming use of these substances after childbirth, and that resumption appears to be rapid given the higher rates for mothers of infants under 3 months old compared with pregnant women in the second or third trimesters. Effective interventions for women to further reduce substance use during pregnancy and to prevent postpartum resumption of use could improve the overall health and well-being of mothers and infants.
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 2002-2007 NSDUH data used in this report were based on information obtained from 113,140 females aged 18 to 44 including 6,036 who were in their first, second, or third trimester of pregnancy at the time of the survey interview. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face interviews at their place of residence. The NSDUH Report is prepared by the Office of Applied Studies (OAS), SAMHSA, and by RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. (RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.) Information on the most recent NSDUH is available in the following publication: Office of Applied Studies. (2008). Results from the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 08-4343, NSDUH Series H-34). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Also available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. |
The NSDUH Report is published periodically by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Additional copies of this report or other reports from the Office of Applied Studies are available online: http://oas.samhsa.gov. Citation of the source is appreciated. For questions about this report, please e-mail: shortreports@samhsa.hhs.gov.
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SAMHSA, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal Government's lead agency for improving the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health services in the United States.
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