How to Prevent Illegal Drug Use During Pregnancy

While you are pregnant, everything that you take into your body affects you and your baby. Illegal drug use during pregnancy is dangerous for your health and your baby’s health. Illegal or street drugs are never safe to use during pregnancy. This includes drugs such as:

• Cocaine.
• MDMA, also called ecstasy.
• Amphetamines and methamphetamines.
• Heroin.
• Marijuana. This may be legal in some states but should not be used during pregnancy.

Abusing prescription medicines, such as pain killers, is also a form of illegal drug use. This means taking medicines differently than how they were prescribed, such as in higher doses or for different reasons. This kind of illegal drug use can also be harmful to you and your baby.

If you have questions or concerns about your drug or prescription medicine use, work with your health care provider.

How can using illegal drugs during pregnancy affect me and my baby?

Using illegal drugs or abusing prescription medicines during pregnancy raises your risk for:

• Sudden loss of your baby.
• Problems with the organ in your womb (uterus) that provides your baby with nutrients, blood, and oxygen (placenta).
• Going into labor early (preterm labor), which can put your baby at risk for serious problems.
• Using alcohol or other drugs during pregnancy.
• Certain infections, including:
  • HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
  • Hepatitis.
  • STIs (sexually transmitted infections).

Illegal drug use can also cause serious problems for your baby, such as:

• Being born too early (prematurely).
• Breathing problems, heart problems, or other birth defects.
• Low birth weight.
• An abnormally small head (microcephaly).
• Lifelong developmental or learning disabilities.

Illegal drug use can lead to dependence or addiction. Dependence or addiction can cause unpleasant and dangerous symptoms when you stop using the drug (withdrawal). The same can happen to your baby if you use drugs during pregnancy, and your baby may have symptoms of withdrawal after birth (neonatal abstinence syndrome).

What are the benefits of avoiding illegal drug use during pregnancy?

Not using illegal drugs or abusing prescription medicines is the best way to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. This allows you to:

• Be physically and mentally healthier.
• Avoid possible legal problems related to drug use.
• Give your baby a healthy start in life.

What actions can I take?

• Do not take any medicine during pregnancy unless it has been prescribed for you to take during your pregnancy.
• If you think you may become pregnant, do not use illegal drugs. If you use illegal drugs and have trouble quitting, ask your health care provider for help.
• If you are using drugs during pregnancy, get help as soon as possible. Treatment programs during pregnancy are focused on helping you:
  • Safely stop illegal drug use.
  • Get healthy and stay healthy.
  • Have a healthy pregnancy.
  • Work with a social service agency.

Where to find more information

You can find more information about preventing illegal drug use during pregnancy from:

• March of Dimes: www.marchofdimes.org  
• American Pregnancy Association: americanpregnancy.org  
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: www.acog.org  

Contact a health care provider if:

• You become pregnant or think you may become pregnant while you are:
  • Taking a prescription medicine.
  • Using an illegal drug.
• You are unable to stop using a drug.
• You are pregnant and having withdrawal symptoms.

Summary

• Illegal drug use during pregnancy can cause serious health problems for you and your baby.
• Abusing prescription medicines is a form of illegal drug use that can be just as dangerous as using street drugs.
• Tell your health care provider right away if you get pregnant while taking any drug, including prescription medicines.