Marijuana Use among Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women of Reproductive Age, 2013-2019

Abstract

Background: Marijuana is the most commonly used federally illicit substance among reproductive-age women in the United States. Updated information on marijuana use in this population can inform clinical and public health interventions.

Methods: Data from the 2013-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was used to report weighted prevalence estimates of marijuana use in the past month, past 2-12 months, and past year among women aged 18-44 years with self-reported pregnancy status. Bivariate analyses and general linear regression models with Poisson distribution using appropriate survey procedures identified factors associated with past-year marijuana use by pregnancy status.

Results: Among pregnant women, 4.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.1-5.6) reported marijuana use in the past month, 10.4% (95% CI: 9.3-11.5) in the past 2-12 months, and 15.2% (95% CI: 13.9-16.6) in the past year. Among nonpregnant women, 11.8% (95% CI: 11.5-12.0) reported marijuana use in the past month, 7.8% (95% CI: 7.6-8.0) in the past 2-12 months, and 19.5% (95% CI: 19.2-19.9) in the past year. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, past-year marijuana use was 2.3-5.1 times more likely among pregnant, and 2.1 to 4.6 times more likely among nonpregnant women who reported past-year tobacco smoking, alcohol use, or other illicit drug use compared to those reporting no substance use.

Conclusions: Pregnant and nonpregnant women reporting marijuana use, alone or with other substances, can benefit from substance use screening and treatment facilitation.

Keywords: Dependence; marijuana; pregnant; reproductive age; substance use.

Figure 1.

Prevalence of marijuana use among women of reproductive age, by pregnancy status and trimester, National Survey on Drug use and Health, 2013–2019. Data presented as unweighted N and weighted percent with 95% CI.