BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The use of illicit drugs during pregnancy becomes a high risk situation. Our objective is to determine the currently prevalence, pregnancy, delivery and newborn's characteristics of mothers who use illicit drugs.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of children exposed prenatally to illicit drugs in the Neonatology's Unit of the Hospital del Mar during 2002-2008 and comparison with 1982-1988 data.RESULTS: Heroin use is lower currently and it is always associated with other drugs, mainly inhaled or smoked. There is an increase of the maternal age (28.4 years), an improved gestational control (60.5%) and more newborns are attended in shelters (13.1%). Methadone programs provide better overall results. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (25%) and hepatitis B (BHV) (2.5%) infections have decreased. Placental abruption rate in cocaine users is very high (11%). By comparing both periods, there were statistically significant differences in maternal age, gestational control, delivery way, neonatal withdrawal syndrome treatment and newborn destination.CONCLUSIONS: Drug abuse remains prevalent in native pregnants. Heroin use has decreased. At present, there is a better gestational control and less HIV and HBV infections. The gestational age and somatometric parameters have not changed over the years. Methadone programs improve the deleterious aspects of opioid use. Placental abruption in pregnancy and neurobehavioral disorders in newborn are common in cocaine users.
Adolescent Adult