Substance Use in Pregnancy and Its Impact on Communities of Color

Stigma toward pregnant and postpartum people who use drugs is common and seeks to define addiction as a moral weakness rather than a chronic medical illness that requires resources and treatment. More concerning is the additive impact of substance use and racial discrimination, whose intersections present particularly challenging circumstances. In this article, the authors review the history of substance use in the United States and focus on 3 substances of abuse that illustrate the inequity faced by pregnant person of color who use drugs.

Source: Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics - November 29, 2023 Category: OBGYN Authors: Leah Habersham, Joshua George, Courtney D. Townsel Source Type: research