DRUG-DEPENDENCE DURING PREGNANCY - EFFECT OF AN ON-SITE SUPPORT GROUP

OBJECTIVE: To examine the clinical and economic efficacy of an on-site support group for drug-abusing pregnant women enrolled in an urban, h ospital-based obstetric clinic. STUDY DESIGN: Maternal and neonatal ou tcomes and medical cost data were compared for drug-abusing pregnant w omen who attended (n=54) and did not attend (n=67) a weekly substance abuse support group in the obstetric clinic. RESULTS: Clinical and eco nomic outcomes were more favorable for support group attenders than no nattenders. Specifically, infants of support group attenders had highe r birth weights and better 1-minute Apgar scores. In addition, average short-term medical care costs were nearly $1,000 (maternal) and >$1,5 00 (infant/neonatal) lower for support group attenders as compared to nonattenders. CONCLUSION: Support group attendance was associated with short-term clinical and economic benefits that are likely to translat e into longer-term cost savings. The findings suggest that a weekly su bstance abuse support group can provide low-cost, well-accepted and ef fective therapeutic services for this high-risk population of women.