Abstract

Data were obtained from 142 pregnant women who attended a High Risk Prenatal Clinic and compared to those obtained from 144 women attending the regular obstetric (OB) clinic. Of those, women who abused heroin werecompared to those who abused prescription drugs, and those who abused more than one prescription drug. Groups were compared on maternal characteristics that included age, race, marital status, and medical problems as well as drug and alcohol, cigarette using behaviors. The women who attended the High Risk Prenatal Clinic were significantly different from the women attending the regular
OB clinic however, the women who abused heroin differed from their prescription abusing counterparts only on incidence of Hepatitis C. These data indicate the importance of providing specialized care for pregnant substance abusing women that addresses these high risk problems.