About 5% of pregnant US women used marijuana in the past month, with rates higher among those using other substances
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't 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
Questions This Raises
- ?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?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 15.2% past-year marijuana use among pregnant women
- Evidence Grade:
- Large nationally representative survey dataset with appropriate statistical weighting, though limited by self-report and cross-sectional design.
- Study Age:
- 2024 publication analyzing 2013-2019 NSDUH data
- Original Title:
- Marijuana Use among Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women of Reproductive Age, 2013-2019.
- Published In:
- Substance use & misuse, 59(5), 690-698 (2024)
- Authors:
- Kobernik, Emily K, Ford, Nicole D, Levecke, Madison, Galang, Romeo R, Hoots, Brooke, Roehler, Douglas R, Ko, Jean Y
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05433
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked 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 More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05433APA
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
MLA
Kobernik, Emily K, et al. "Marijuana Use among Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women of Reproductive Age, 2013-2019.." Substance use & misuse, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2023.2294974
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Marijuana Use among Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women of Reprod..." RTHC-05433. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kobernik-2024-marijuana-use-among-pregnant
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.