Pregnant individuals described how the COVID-19 pandemic changed their cannabis use
Qualitative interviews with pregnant cannabis users revealed the pandemic increased stress, isolation, and anxiety that either triggered new cannabis use or intensified existing patterns during pregnancy.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to changes in prenatal cannabis use through increased stress, isolation, reduced healthcare access, and heightened anxiety. Some participants increased use, while others described the pandemic as the catalyst for starting cannabis during pregnancy.
Key Numbers
Qualitative interviews with pregnant cannabis users during COVID-19. Pandemic-related stress and isolation identified as key drivers of changed use patterns.
How They Did This
Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with pregnant individuals who used cannabis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Explored pandemic-related changes in cannabis use patterns and motivations.
Why This Research Matters
Prenatal cannabis use increased during the pandemic. Understanding the specific mechanisms (stress, isolation, reduced healthcare) helps design interventions that address the root causes rather than just the cannabis use itself.
The Bigger Picture
The pandemic served as a natural experiment revealing how external stressors affect prenatal substance use decisions. The lessons apply beyond COVID-19 to any period of heightened stress or reduced healthcare access for pregnant populations.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Qualitative study cannot quantify prevalence or measure health outcomes. Self-selected participants willing to discuss cannabis use during pregnancy. Recall may be affected by ongoing pandemic stress. Cannot separate pandemic effects from normal pregnancy-related use changes.
Questions This Raises
- ?As pandemic stressors resolve, are prenatal cannabis use rates returning to pre-pandemic levels?
- ?Would telehealth-based prenatal cannabis counseling reach more people?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Pandemic stress and isolation drove changes in prenatal cannabis use patterns
- Evidence Grade:
- Qualitative study providing in-depth perspectives. Cannot be generalized quantitatively.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023. Interviews during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Original Title:
- Pregnant individual's lived experience of cannabis use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.
- Published In:
- Frontiers in psychiatry, 14, 1161137 (2023)
- Authors:
- Young-Wolff, Kelly C(42), Foti, Tara R(6), Green, Andrea(6), Iturralde, Esti, Jackson-Morris, Melanie, Does, Monique B, Adams, Sara R, Goler, Nancy, Conway, Amy, Ansley, Deborah, Altschuler, Andrea
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05047
Evidence Hierarchy
Uses interviews or focus groups to understand experiences in depth.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did the pandemic increase cannabis use during pregnancy?
Quantitative studies suggest yes, and this qualitative study explains how. Participants described pandemic-related stress, isolation, anxiety, and reduced healthcare access as factors that either triggered or intensified cannabis use during pregnancy.
Why do pregnant people use cannabis during stressful times?
Participants described using cannabis to manage anxiety, insomnia, nausea, and emotional distress that were amplified by pandemic conditions. Some viewed cannabis as safer than prescription medications. Limited healthcare access during lockdowns reduced opportunities for discussing alternatives.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05047APA
Young-Wolff, Kelly C; Foti, Tara R; Green, Andrea; Iturralde, Esti; Jackson-Morris, Melanie; Does, Monique B; Adams, Sara R; Goler, Nancy; Conway, Amy; Ansley, Deborah; Altschuler, Andrea. (2023). Pregnant individual's lived experience of cannabis use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.. Frontiers in psychiatry, 14, 1161137. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1161137
MLA
Young-Wolff, Kelly C, et al. "Pregnant individual's lived experience of cannabis use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.." Frontiers in psychiatry, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1161137
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Pregnant individual's lived experience of cannabis use durin..." RTHC-05047. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/young-wolff-2023-pregnant-individuals-lived-experience
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.