Only 30.3% of pregnant women with cannabis use disorder completed treatment, with criminal justice referrals yielding the highest completion rates (52% when combined with >1 month of treatment).
Addiction medicine specialists, obstetricians, and prenatal care providers.
30.3% completionfor CUD treatment in pregnant women, with criminal justice referrals yielding the best outcomes (52%)
What the researchers found
CUD treatment completion was higher with criminal justice referral (AOR=2.29), community referral (AOR=1.65), and healthcare provider referral (AOR=1.60) compared to self-referral. Stays of 4-12 months predicted completion.
Why it matters
With CUD rising among pregnant women and cannabis potentially harming fetal development, improving treatment access and completion is a pressing public health priority.
The numbers in context
7,319 pregnant women with CUD from TEDS-D (2010-2019). 30.3% completion rate. Criminal justice referral AOR=2.29. Community referral AOR=1.65. Healthcare referral AOR=1.60. 52% completion for >1 month treatment with justice referral.
How the study worked
Retrospective analysis of Treatment Episode Data Set-Discharges (2010-2019) using logistic regression and classification tree analysis for treatment completion predictors.
Who was studied
7,319 pregnant women with cannabis use disorder and no prior treatment history (TEDS-D, 2010-2019).
What this study cannot tell us
Administrative treatment data may not capture all relevant factors. Self-report of CUD. Cannot assess treatment quality. Criminal justice involvement may introduce confounding.
How to read the evidence
Large national treatment dataset; observational design limits causal claims about referral effects.
When this study was published
Uses 2010-2019 national treatment data.
The bigger picture
The low 30% completion rate for CUD treatment in pregnant women highlights a significant gap in the healthcare system ability to address a growing problem with known fetal risks.
Replication
Large national dataset; findings may inform treatment program design.
Funding
Not specified in abstract
Conflicts of interest
Not specified in abstract
Questions still open
- What barriers prevent pregnant women from completing CUD treatment?
- Should prenatal care include routine CUD screening and referral?
Read the original research
Treatment outcomes among pregnant women with cannabis use disorder.
Addictive behaviors, 144, 107723
Citation
Kitsantas, Panagiota; Gimm, Gilbert; Aljoudi, Salman M. (2023). Treatment outcomes among pregnant women with cannabis use disorder.. Addictive behaviors, 144, 107723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107723