West Virginia birth data revealed high prenatal substance use rates with cannabis as a common component
Among 34,309 births in rural Appalachian West Virginia, prenatal substance use was prevalent with cannabis appearing as a standalone category and in multiple polysubstance combinations with opioids and stimulants.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabis was identified as both a standalone prenatal exposure category and a component of multiple polysubstance patterns (cannabis alone, opioids+cannabis, cannabis+stimulants, opioids+cannabis+stimulants) in a population-based birth cohort from West Virginia.
Key Numbers
34,309 births in West Virginia (2020-2022). Nine substance use categories: no use, opioids, cannabis, sedatives/hypnotics, stimulants, opioids+cannabis, opioids+stimulants, cannabis+stimulants, opioids+cannabis+stimulants.
How They Did This
Population-based cohort (Project WATCH) of all 34,309 women who gave birth in West Virginia between February 2020 and June 2022. Substance use identified through self-report, medical records, and drug screening. Nine substance use categories defined.
Why This Research Matters
Rural Appalachian populations face disproportionate substance use challenges. Understanding the specific patterns, including where cannabis fits, is essential for designing appropriate prenatal interventions in underserved regions.
The Bigger Picture
Appalachian communities have been at the center of the opioid crisis, but cannabis use during pregnancy is part of a more complex substance use landscape that includes multiple overlapping patterns. Population-level data like this helps map the full picture.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single-state data from a region with unique substance use dynamics. Screening methods may miss some use. Short time window (2020-2022) overlapping with COVID-19 pandemic. Does not assess pregnancy outcomes associated with different substance use patterns.
Questions This Raises
- ?How do different prenatal substance use combinations affect birth outcomes in this population?
- ?Would universal screening with comprehensive substance panels improve identification rates?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 34,309 births; cannabis appeared in multiple prenatal substance use patterns
- Evidence Grade:
- Population-based cohort with multiple screening methods. Strong for prevalence estimation but limited to one state and does not assess outcomes.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023. Data from February 2020 to June 2022.
- Original Title:
- Prenatal substance use in the rural and Appalachian state: Project WATCH study 2020-2022.
- Published In:
- The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association, 39(4), 804-815 (2023)
- Authors:
- Umer, Amna(2), Garrow, Jana, Nesbitt, Makena, Lilly, Christa, Lefeber, Candice, Breyel, Janine, John, Collin
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04992
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How common is cannabis use during pregnancy in Appalachia?
This study identified cannabis as a significant component of prenatal substance use in West Virginia, appearing both as a standalone exposure and in combination with opioids and stimulants. The exact prevalence depends on how cannabis-inclusive categories are combined.
Why study prenatal substance use in West Virginia specifically?
West Virginia and the broader Appalachian region have been disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis. Population-level birth data helps understand the full spectrum of substance use during pregnancy, including how cannabis fits alongside opioid and stimulant use in this community.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04992APA
Umer, Amna; Garrow, Jana; Nesbitt, Makena; Lilly, Christa; Lefeber, Candice; Breyel, Janine; John, Collin. (2023). Prenatal substance use in the rural and Appalachian state: Project WATCH study 2020-2022.. The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association, 39(4), 804-815. https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12752
MLA
Umer, Amna, et al. "Prenatal substance use in the rural and Appalachian state: Project WATCH study 2020-2022.." The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12752
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Prenatal substance use in the rural and Appalachian state: P..." RTHC-04992. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/umer-2023-prenatal-substance-use-in
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.