Descriptive Statistics and Polysubstance Use of Pregnant Women Admitted to the United States Treatment Facilities With Methamphetamine Use
Author(s)
Ellie Hong, HS Senior (Class of 2026)1, Ellen Jihyun Hong, BA2, Sean Hyungwoo Kim, BA, MS, PharmD3.
1Stone Bridge High School, Ashburn, VA, USA, 2University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA, 3Shenandoah University/George Mason Univesity, Ashburn, VA, USA.
1Stone Bridge High School, Ashburn, VA, USA, 2University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA, 3Shenandoah University/George Mason Univesity, Ashburn, VA, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Prenatal methamphetamine use is associated with adverse gestational outcomes. According to Albrecht et al, methamphetamine is the most common substance of abuse during pregnancy among women admitted to treatment facilities in the United States (US). Polysubstance use (PSU) is defined as the ingestion of more than one drug of abuse within a defined period with specific motivations driven by anticipated drug effect(s). Limited research, however, exists on PSU of methamphetamine with other substances. The purpose of this study was (1) to describe the social determinants and treatment-related characteristics of pregnant women admitted to US treatment facilities with methamphetamine as primary substance of abuse; (2) to determine the prevalence of PSU or concurrent use of methamphetamine with other substances.
METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2015-2022 Treatment Episode Data Set, a national repository of substance use treatment information. The analytic sample included 13,188 treatment naïve pregnant women who reported methamphetamine as their primary substance of abuse. Descriptive statistics, and bivariate analyses were conducted to assess associations between sociodemographic factors or treatment-related characteristics on PSU status.
RESULTS: Nearly 59.7% of the pregnant women were polysubstance users or concurrent users of opioids, alcohol, psychoactive stimulants, marijuana, and other substances. Women who were separated/divorced/widowed, 21-29 years old, and living in the South region of the US had the highest prevalence of PSU. Pregnant women admitted to treatment facilities in an ambulatory care setting, admitted for 1-30 days, and had dependent living situation at discharge had the highest prevalence of PSU status.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that prevalence of PSU among methamphetamine pregnant women users is not uncommon and is associated with several sociodemographic and treatment-related characteristics. Healthcare professionals and public health officials need to enhance or enact policies that target pregnant women for screening multiple substances rather than single substance of abuse.
METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2015-2022 Treatment Episode Data Set, a national repository of substance use treatment information. The analytic sample included 13,188 treatment naïve pregnant women who reported methamphetamine as their primary substance of abuse. Descriptive statistics, and bivariate analyses were conducted to assess associations between sociodemographic factors or treatment-related characteristics on PSU status.
RESULTS: Nearly 59.7% of the pregnant women were polysubstance users or concurrent users of opioids, alcohol, psychoactive stimulants, marijuana, and other substances. Women who were separated/divorced/widowed, 21-29 years old, and living in the South region of the US had the highest prevalence of PSU. Pregnant women admitted to treatment facilities in an ambulatory care setting, admitted for 1-30 days, and had dependent living situation at discharge had the highest prevalence of PSU status.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that prevalence of PSU among methamphetamine pregnant women users is not uncommon and is associated with several sociodemographic and treatment-related characteristics. Healthcare professionals and public health officials need to enhance or enact policies that target pregnant women for screening multiple substances rather than single substance of abuse.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EPH57
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
Mental Health (including addition), Reproductive & Sexual Health