Abstract
The number of women misusing drugs has increased considerably and a significant number of females in the UK presenting to drug misuse services for treatment are of child-bearing age. Every women suspected of a positive pregnancy test requires appropriate history taking, assessment and screening for alcohol and other drug use. (See assessment section). Drug and alcohol use during pregnancy is associated with both maternal and fetal/neonatal outcomes. Maternal outcomes including not receiving adequate prenatal care and fetal outcomes related to a failure to thrive. Pregnancy offers clinicians a window of opportunity to help women quit smoking and to reduce harm associated with problematic alcohol and other drug use. Although pregnancy may act as a catalyst for change, drug misusers often fail to use general health services until late into pregnancy and are therefore more vulnerable to medical and obstetrical complications. It is important that obstetric care is organised once pregnancy is confirmed. Where harmful, hazardous or dependent use is suspected or confirmed a specialist Drug & Alcohol service should be involved.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Addiction Medicine |
| Editors | John Saunders, KM Conigrave , NC Latt , DJ Nutt, EJ Marshall, W Ling, S Higuchi |
| Place of Publication | London |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Pages | 505-514 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Volume | 1 |
| Edition | 2nd |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780198714750 |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Keywords
- addiction medicine
