Substance abuse in women is a rapidly growing and serious public health problem worldwide. Besides classic forms of substance abuse like alcohol abuse and smoking, drug abuse is also on the rise among women. As a consequence, especially under the influence of the abused substance, female abusers face an increased risk of being sexually assaulted, raped, having undesired pregnancies and being infected with sexually transmitted diseases. Substance abuse during pregnancy increases maternal health risks as well as mental and physical problems for the fetus. Furthermore, substance abuser pregnant women tend to receive less and lower quality antenatal care compared with other women. Substance abuse during pregnancy requires a multi-disciplinary approach involving a psychiatrist, a public health care specialist and a pediatrician in addition to the obstetrician.
Keywords: substance, abuse, pregnancy