CESSATION OF COCAINE USE DURING PREGNANCY - A PRELIMINARY COMPARISON

This preliminary study examined differences between cocaine-dependent pregnant women who received ''baseline'' drug treatment (N = 13) and t hose requiring additional ''intensive'' treatment (N = 9). Baseline dr ug treatment consisted of weekly individual counseling sessions. Inten sive treatment, in the form of contingency management procedures, was added for patients who showed no reduction in cocaine use during the f irst 4 weeks of treatment. There were no differences between the two g roups in terms of demographic and pregnancy characteristics or history of cocaine use. Significantly more patients in the baseline treatment group were cocaine-free at intake and had a higher rate of compliance with scheduled prenatal clinical visits. These findings may indicate a decision to cease cocaine use prior to entering treatment, and a hig h degree of motivation to remain drug-free. Despite the small sample s ize, the finding that a substantial proportion of cocaine-dependent pr egnant women remain cocaine-free during treatment is encouraging.