In a national survey of 14- to 24-year-olds, most believed cannabis is harmful during pregnancy and supported clinician counseling, though they were divided on whether prenatal use constitutes child abuse.
Prenatal care providers; public health communicators targeting young adults about cannabis and pregnancy.
More than 1 in 3 young people felt prenatal cannabis use should be classified as child abuse
What the researchers found
Four themes emerged: AYAs believe cannabis is harmful during pregnancy, they are divided on whether prenatal exposure should be considered child abuse or neglect, they have mixed attitudes about cannabis and safe parenting, and they support healthcare professional counseling about prenatal cannabis use. More than one in three felt prenatal cannabis use should be classified as child abuse or neglect.
Why it matters
Prenatal cannabis use is rising even as risk perception declines among pregnant people. Understanding how young people -- many of whom will soon face reproductive decisions -- view prenatal cannabis use reveals both protective attitudes (believing it's harmful) and concerning divisions (on whether it's abuse) that should inform public health messaging.
The numbers in context
826 AYAs surveyed, 666 responded (80.6%). Mean age 19.9 years (SD 2.3). More than one in three felt prenatal cannabis use should be classified as child abuse or neglect. Four main themes identified.
How the study worked
Qualitative content analysis of five open-ended survey questions delivered via text message to the MyVoice cohort (826 AYAs aged 14-24 nationally recruited from social media). 666 responded (80.6% response rate). Responses were coded and analyzed with descriptive statistics.
What this study cannot tell us
Convenience sample recruited from social media may not represent all AYAs. Open-ended text responses may lack the depth of in-person interviews. The survey was conducted during a specific cultural moment (2022) when attitudes are still evolving.
How to read the evidence
Moderate: nationally recruited cohort with high response rate and rigorous qualitative methods, but convenience sampling and text-based responses limit depth.
When this study was published
2024 study using May/June 2022 survey data.
The bigger picture
There is a disconnect between declining risk perceptions among pregnant cannabis users and the concerns expressed by young people in this survey. Adolescents and young adults generally want more clinician guidance, suggesting a window of opportunity for prevention before and during pregnancy.
Questions still open
- How do AYA attitudes about prenatal cannabis use translate into behavior when they become pregnant? Would targeted education during adolescence reduce prenatal cannabis use in future pregnancies?
Common questions
Do young people think cannabis is safe during pregnancy?
Why were responses divided on the child abuse question?
Read the original research
Perspectives of adolescents and young adults on cannabis use during pregnancy.
Addictive behaviors, 156, 108059
Citation
Whitlock, Christopher; Chang, Claire; Onishchenko, Regina; Joassaint, Madgean; Madlambayan, Emily; Oshman, Lauren; Frank, Christopher J. (2024). Perspectives of adolescents and young adults on cannabis use during pregnancy.. Addictive behaviors, 156, 108059. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108059
Explore the wider topic
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