About 5% of pregnant US women used marijuana in the past month, with rates higher among those using other substances | Research

The takeaway

National survey data from 2013-2019 showed about 5% of pregnant women used marijuana in the past month and 15% in the past year, with use 2-5 times more likely among those also using tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs.

Obstetricians, prenatal care providers, and public health researchers tracking substance use trends in pregnancy

15.2% past-year marijuana use among pregnant women

What the researchers found

Among pregnant women, 4.9% reported past-month marijuana use and 15.2% reported past-year use. Among nonpregnant women, rates were 11.8% and 19.5% respectively. Past-year marijuana use was 2.3-5.1 times more likely among pregnant women who also reported tobacco, alcohol, or other illicit drug use compared to those with no substance use.

Why it matters

These national estimates provide baseline prevalence data for marijuana use during pregnancy and highlight the strong association with polysubstance use, which compounds risks.

The numbers in context

Pregnant women: 4.9% past-month, 10.4% past 2-12 months, 15.2% past-year marijuana use; nonpregnant: 11.8%, 7.8%, 19.5% respectively; adjusted prevalence ratios for polysubstance use: 2.3-5.1x for pregnant, 2.1-4.6x for nonpregnant women

How the study worked

Analysis of 2013-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data using weighted prevalence estimates and general linear regression models with Poisson distribution to identify factors associated with past-year marijuana use by self-reported pregnancy status among women aged 18-44.

What this study cannot tell us

Self-reported data may underestimate use due to stigma; NSDUH does not include institutionalized populations; pregnancy status self-reported and not verified; data from 2013-2019 may not reflect current trends; cannot assess amount or potency of marijuana used

How to read the evidence

Large nationally representative survey dataset with appropriate statistical weighting, though limited by self-report and cross-sectional design.

When this study was published

2024 publication analyzing 2013-2019 NSDUH data

The bigger picture

The co-occurrence of marijuana with other substance use during pregnancy suggests screening and interventions should address multiple substances simultaneously rather than focusing on one alone.

Questions still open

Have prenatal marijuana use rates changed since 2019 with further legalization? Is the polysubstance association driven by shared risk factors or does marijuana use directly lead to other substance use?

Common questions

How common is marijuana use during pregnancy?

From 2013-2019 nationally, about 5% of pregnant women reported using marijuana in the past month and 15% in the past year. Rates were lower than among nonpregnant women of the same age (12% and 20%), suggesting some women reduce use during pregnancy.

Who is most likely to use marijuana while pregnant?

Pregnant women who also used tobacco, alcohol, or other illicit drugs were 2.3 to 5.1 times more likely to report marijuana use compared to pregnant women with no other substance use. This polysubstance pattern was similar for nonpregnant women.

Read the original research

Marijuana Use among Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women of Reproductive Age, 2013-2019.

Substance use & misuse, 59(5), 690-698

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Kobernik, Emily K; Ford, Nicole D; Levecke, Madison; Galang, Romeo R; Hoots, Brooke; Roehler, Douglas R; Ko, Jean Y. (2024). Marijuana Use among Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women of Reproductive Age, 2013-2019.. Substance use & misuse, 59(5), 690-698. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2023.2294974