A recent study has revealed that the rates of cannabis use disorder (CUD) diagnoses during pregnancy may be higher than previously estimated. The research, published online on February 28 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, analyzed claims data from a large group of commercially insured women between 2015 and 2020.
Dr. Priscila Dib Goncalves from Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City led the study, which included data from 893,430 pregnant women aged 12 to 55, representing a total of 1,058,448 pregnancies. The findings showed a cumulative prevalence of CUD diagnosis at 0.26 percent, which is slightly above rates found in earlier studies. Annual prevalence rates varied from 0.22 percent in 2015 to 0.26 percent in 2020.
The researchers noted that healthcare providers who frequently interact with pregnant women are in a unique position to address CUD. However, they indicated that many clinicians may not have the necessary support to implement effective interventions. Concerns about legal repercussions for disclosing substance use could also prevent pregnant women from being open about their cannabis use, affecting the accuracy of CUD diagnoses. The authors suggested that addressing punitive prenatal drug policies may help improve the situation and encourage more accurate reporting of cannabis use among pregnant women.
