Pregnant Women with Substance Abuse Disorders

Substance abuse is a major health problem that has adverse consequences on social groups, especially it puts pregnant women at a serious risk. Currently, increased rate of pregnancy in women with substance abuse is a serious concern for the health care system. History of substance abuse and trauma, avoidance of or poor access to prenatal care, and concern about legal consequences of substance abuse are the most common risk factors for a high-risk pregnancy in women with substance abuse. Spontaneous abortion, premature birth, low birth weight, placental abruption, intrauterine growth restriction, and neonatal abstinence syndrome are the most common consequences of pregnancy in women with substance abuse. This paper attempts to focus on infectious diseases, the risks associated with fetal and maternal health, the screening test for tobacco, cannabis, opiates, benzodiazepines, stimulant drugs, and some other drugs. It is important to provide comprehensive information to improve knowledge of mental health professionals to care, treat, and break the cycle of substance use in substance abusers. This paper also provides information to improve knowledge about side effects of substance abuse for family members who have substance abusers. Therefore, it is highly necessary to attention on prevention and treatment of substance abuse before and during pregnancy of women.