Prevalence of cannabis use disorder among pregnant people who test positive for cannabis at time of delivery

BACKGROUND: Cannabis use in pregnancy is common, but the reasons that some pregnant people continue use are unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of cannabis use disorder and medicinal cannabis use among pregnant people who test positive for cannabis use at the time of delivery at a single institution. STUDY DESIGN: A standardized questionnaire was administered to postpartum people who tested positive for cannabis use by urine toxicology at the time of admission to the obstetrical care unit at the University of Maryland Medical Center. The questionnaire included questions modeled after the National Survey on Drug Use and Health's assessment of cannabis use disorder. The questionnaire also asked the respondent to indicate which symptoms, if any, they used cannabis to treat and whether cannabis had been recommended by a physician. RESULTS: Of 46 study respondents, 12 (26.1%) met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, criteria for cannabis use disorder. Among the 37 respondents who answered questions about physician recommendation and treatment of symptoms, 28 (75.7%) reported using cannabis for symptom control, most commonly nausea or vomiting. Of note, 2 respondents reported having been recommended cannabis by a physician before they became pregnant but not specifically after becoming pregnant. Moreover, 31 of 35 respondents (88.5%) indicated that they intended to stop using cannabis during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Here, a quarter of birthing people who tested positive for cannabis use at the time of delivery met the cannabis use disorder criteria. Further investigation is needed to identify barriers and unmet needs for substance use treatment.