THE PREVALENCE OF COCAINE ABUSE DURING PREGNANCY IN BARCELONA

The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of cocaine abuse, by means of positive urine toxicology screens or targeted questionnai re, among women in labor at our hospital. The prospective study includ ed 1773 women who delivered consecutively in our institution. All of t hem underwent a standarized questionnaire including drug use and demog raphic data. Urine samples were obtained during labor. Urine toxicolog y screens for cocaine and its metabolites, opiates, and ethanol were p erformed by enzyme multiplied inmunoassay technique. Information was c oded in order to maintain anonymity. Among the 1773 women in labor we screened, the mean age was 27.8 years and the overall prevalence of a positive questionnaire for cocaine was 0.3% and a positive urine toxic ology was 0.8%. Results by drug and by demographic items are analysed. There was a substantial denial of cocaine use among the toxicological ly positive patients, since only 43% of them referred its use at any t ime during pregnancy, in conclusion, the use of illicit drugs is commo n among pregnant women in our institution, but cocaine does not seem t o be as prevalent as it is in the USA, while in the labor room most wo men with a positive test do not refer the use of the drug. Urine toxic ology screening increases the rate of detection of substance abuse in this population of women. These studies are necessary to target educat ional programs among pregnant women.