The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #58828

Tanya T. Sharpe, PhD, MS¹, R. Louise Floyd, DSN, RN², Jasjeet Sidhu, MD, MPH², Mary M. Velasquez, PhD³, and Patricia Dolan Mullen⁴. (1) National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities/ Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Team, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Mail Stop F-49, Atlanta, GA 30341, (770) 488-7662, tsharpe2@cdc.gov, (2) NCBDDD/Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Team, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, NE, MS-F49, Atlanta, GA 30341, (3) Medical School, University of Texas-Houston, UT Health Science Center, 6431 Fannin Street JJL 324, Houston, TX 77030, (4) Center for Health Promotion Research and Development, School of Public Health, University of Texas-Houston, Box 20186, Houston, TX 77225

Fertile women of childbearing age who use illicit drugs such as crack, cocaine, marijuana, and heroin might be at risk for having a child with fetal alcohol syndrome or alcohol related neuro-developmental disorders because of concurrent alcohol use. As a component of Project CHOICES, a CDC-funded, multisite intervention study, an epidemiological survey was administered to women in a total of 6 community-based settings in Florida, Virginia, and Texas. Bivariate analyses were used to ascertain if women who use illicit drugs are more likely to report drinking during pregnancy, unplanned pregnancies, and binge drinking. Of 2607 women surveyed, 25% (n = 667) reported no drug use, 23% (n = 609) reported using marijuana, 11% (n = 293) reported using powder cocaine, 28% (n = 727) reported using crack cocaine and 12% (n = 311) reported using heroin during the 6 months prior to the survey. Greater proportions of heroin users and crack users reported binge drinking (5 or more drinks on one occasion in the previous 6 months), 57% and 44%, respectively compared with non-users, 7% (p < .0001). Fifteen percent of women who used crack and 24% of women who used heroin also reported binge drinking once per week or more during pregnancy compared with less than 2% of women reporting no drug use (p < .0001). Women currently using illicit drugs are a high- risk subpopulation for alcohol exposed pregnancies.

Learning Objectives:

• Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to:
• • Identify one risk factor for alcohol use among women who use illicit drugs.
• • Identify one risk factor for an alcohol exposed pregnancy among women who use illicit drugs.

Keywords: Alcohol, Drug Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities/Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Team
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.