Discontinuation Patterns of Substances of Abuse in Pregnancy in a Cohort of Women Seeking Addiction and Parenting Support: A Mixed Methods Study

Background: Substance use during pregnancy is a major public health concern, stemming from potential physical and psychosocial harms to both the mother and child. Objective: It was my aim to characterize substance use patterns throughout pregnancy and explore the reasons that women attribute to these patterns of use. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used to investigate a group of women that attend(ed) Breaking the Cycle (BTC). BTC is a â one-stopâ comprehensive service available to pregnant or parenting women who have substance use issues. Results: Through a chart review (N=470), I found that the greatest number of women used tobacco and cannabis for the duration of pregnancy (N=231 and N=101, respectively), while the proportion of women continuing opioid use was comparably high (61.8%). The results from the two focus groups highlighted the importance of self-efficacy and quality relationships for women who are trying to make positive changes to their substance use during pregnancy.M.Sc