Methamphetamine use during pregnancy

Aims: Within the framework of research on substance abuse during pregnancy, the aim of this paper is to explore women methamphetamine (meth) users' experiences of meth use during pregnancy. Methods: Thirty women in treatment for meth dependence completed in-depth interviews about their life experiences, intimate relationships, and meth-related behaviors. The average age of participants was 28.5 years; 56% are Latina, 30% are white, 7% are American Indian, and 7% are mixed race/ethnicity. Results: Seventy-six percent (n=22) of the participants who had given birth (n=29) reported using meth during pregnancy. Five major themes emerged from the narratives: “I couldn't stop using.”; “I stopped at first but started using again later in the pregnancy.”; “I didn't use during earlier pregnancies but I did during later pregnancies.”; “I don't know why I did it when I was pregnant.”; and “I stopped when I found out I was pregnant.” Women's use during pregnancy was often narratively circumscribed by intimate relationship dynamics, e.g., fear of losing an intimate partner if the shared using experience was terminated. Women described powerful cravings during pregnancy, which often resulted in intensified use. Most women did not perceive their meth use to have had a pronounced impact on their newborns. Conclusion: Considering women's rationales for meth use during pregnancy, further attention needs to be paid to the ways in which intimate partner dynamics influence risk behaviors during pregnancy. In addition, psychobiological research is warranted to identify possible physiologic correlates of intensified craving during pregnancy.