Stressful life events linked to cannabis use before, during, and after pregnancy
Among over 6,000 women from five US states, stressful life events like a partner going to jail or losing a job were associated with higher odds of cannabis use before, during, and after pregnancy.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
16.4% of respondents used cannabis pre-pregnancy, with 36.4% continuing during pregnancy. Among those who quit during pregnancy, 23.2% relapsed postpartum. Nine of 14 stressful life events were associated with pre-pregnancy use (e.g., partner/mother jailed: aOR 2.16). Four events predicted continued use during pregnancy (e.g., partner lost job: aOR 2.19). Postpartum relapse was linked to partner saying they did not want the pregnancy (aOR 2.86).
Key Numbers
6,061 women across 5 states. 16.4% pre-pregnancy use. 36.4% continued during pregnancy. 23.2% postpartum relapse. Partner jailed: aOR 2.16. Partner lost job: aOR 2.19. Partner did not want pregnancy: aOR 2.86 for postpartum relapse.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of PRAMS 2016 data from five US states (Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Washington). Logistic regression adjusted for demographics, geography, and cigarette smoking among 6,061 women who delivered a live infant.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding that stress drives perinatal cannabis use suggests that addressing stressors could be more effective than simply telling women to stop using cannabis during pregnancy.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that interpersonal stressors (partner incarceration, unwanted pregnancy) are key drivers suggests cannabis use during pregnancy may be a coping mechanism for relationship and social stress.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design. Self-reported cannabis use (likely underreported). Five states may not represent the whole US. Cannot establish causation between stress and cannabis use.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would stress reduction interventions during pregnancy reduce cannabis use?
- ?Are women using cannabis specifically to cope with these stressors?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 36.4% of pre-pregnancy users continued during pregnancy
- Evidence Grade:
- Large population-based survey with robust statistical methods, but cross-sectional and self-reported.
- Study Age:
- 2020 analysis of 2016 PRAMS data.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis use and stressful life events during the perinatal period: cross-sectional results from Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data, 2016.
- Published In:
- Addiction (Abingdon, England), 115(9), 1707-1716 (2020)
- Authors:
- Allen, Alicia M, Jung, Alesia M, Alexander, Adam C(3), Allen, Sharon S, Ward, Kenneth D, al'Absi, Mustafa
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02376
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is cannabis use during pregnancy?
In this survey of 6,061 women from five states, 16.4% used cannabis before pregnancy and 36.4% of those continued during pregnancy.
What predicts cannabis use in pregnancy?
Stressful life events like a partner going to jail, losing a job, or expressing they did not want the pregnancy were all associated with higher odds of cannabis use during the perinatal period.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02376APA
Allen, Alicia M; Jung, Alesia M; Alexander, Adam C; Allen, Sharon S; Ward, Kenneth D; al'Absi, Mustafa. (2020). Cannabis use and stressful life events during the perinatal period: cross-sectional results from Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data, 2016.. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 115(9), 1707-1716. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15003
MLA
Allen, Alicia M, et al. "Cannabis use and stressful life events during the perinatal period: cross-sectional results from Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data, 2016.." Addiction (Abingdon, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15003
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis use and stressful life events during the perinatal ..." RTHC-02376. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/allen-2020-cannabis-use-and-stressful
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.