OBJECTIVES: - Non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMPUD) is a serious problem in the US. This problem is even more concerning among pregnant women since non-medical use of prescription drugs has the potential to harm both mother and fetus. However, our knowledge about the prevalence of NMPUD among pregnant women and its predictors is limited. This study attempted to fill these gaps. Objectives of this study were: 1) To estimate the prevalence of NMUPD among pregnant women, and 2) To determine various predictors of NMUPD among pregnant women. METHODS: - This study used data from 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Sample consisted of non-institutionalized, pregnant women who were 12 years or older. Multiple logistic regression analyses which adjusted for the complex survey design were conducted to estimate the relationship between NMUPD among pregnant women and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: - The sample consisted of 956 respondents out of which 92 (9.62%) had engaged in NMUPD in the past year. Among different categories of prescription drugs, prevalence of non-medical use was highest for pain relievers (5.27%), followed by tranquilizers (1.65%), stimulants (1.93%), and sedatives (0.51%). Results from the logistic regression showed significant relationships between past year NMUPD and poor health status (O.R.=5.28, 95% CI: 1.37-20.28), past year use of tobacco (O.R.=2.28, 95% CI: 1.003-5.226), and African American race (O.R.=0.19, 95% CI: 0.06-0.52) or other nonwhite races (O.R.=0.08, 95% CI: 0.02-0.29) at α=0.05. CONCLUSIONS: – Pain relievers are used most frequently non-medically by pregnant women when compared to the other prescription drugs. Pregnant women, who are white, have poorer health and those who smoke are more likely to engage in NMUPD than the others. This study highlights the group of pregnant women that are more vulnerable to NMUPD. Physician need to be careful while prescribing medication to these high risk groups.