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Report Reveals Pattern Shifts in Admission to Substance Abuse Treatment Among Pregnant Teens

A nationwide report issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reveals that from 1992 to 2007 there were significant changes in the patterns of substance abuse treatment admissions among pregnant teens both in terms of the kinds of substances involved and among different ethnic and racial groups.

According to the report, the proportion of pregnant teen admissions for marijuana abuse more than doubled from 19.3% in 1992 to 45.9% in 2007. Marijuana has surpassed alcohol as the primary substance of abuse cited in admissions for pregnant teens—alcohol represented 44.1% of all pregnant teen admissions in 1992—but dropped to 20.3% by 2007. In addition, the proportion of pregnant teen admissions for methamphetamine use has more than quadrupled, from 4.3% in 1992 to 18.8% in 2007.

The report also shows that although the proportion of substance abuse treatment admissions for pregnant teens remained steady overall from 1992 to 2007 (4.7% in 1992 vs. 4% in 2007), significant differences had occurred in admission rates among certain racial and ethnic groups. For example, the proportion of pregnant teen admissions that were non-Hispanic white decreased from 54.5% in 1992 to 50.3% in 2007. Similarly, during the same period, the proportion of these admissions that were non-Hispanic black decreased from 24% to 14.7%. On the other hand, the proportion of pregnant teen admissions that were Hispanic increased from 15.7% to 21.4%.

“Treatment is essential in assisting young women to address their substance use problems before giving birth to a child, especially because these substances may seriously compromise a child’s physical, cognitive and emotional development,” says SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, JD. “These findings will help develop better prevention and treatment programs for young women and potentially free many from the grip of this enormous public health problem.

— Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration