The problem of drug addiction is very common today. Women who cannot overcome their addiction even when they find out that they are pregnant regularly turn to doctors for advice.

Consequences of drug use during pregnancy

The risks to the health of the unborn baby when using drugs during pregnancy are much higher: 

  • the percentage of abortions is increasing, 
  • there may be delays in fetal development, 
  • chronic hypoxia, 
  • premature birth, 
  • stillbirths.

Exact data on the prevalence of drug addiction in pregnant women is unknown, due to the fact that most drug addicts hide their addiction.

In order to find out the extent of drug addiction, including among pregnant women, mass screenings are carried out, as well as random toxicology studies. One of these studies, conducted quite recently by American doctors, showed that about 15% of pregnant women had positive tests for the presence of narcotic substances in their bodies.

Drug addiction is almost always combined with other diseases, since addicted people are negligent about their health and hygiene. As a rule, they have a lack of nutrition, reduced immunity, and they are often diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, HIV, and viral hepatitis.

Definition of drug addiction

The most common way to determine the presence of drugs in the body is a urine test. 

The period of detection of substances depends on the dose and method of administration, and can vary from several hours to weeks. If it is necessary to determine whether drugs were used in the past, a spectral study of the hair is done. 

In addition, it is possible to detect drugs in the amniotic fluid and meconium of a newborn. In the fetal body, narcotic substances accumulate and remain for a longer time, since the liver enzyme systems have not yet matured.

Time to remove drugs from the body (for non-pregnant women)

Drug Route of administration Elimination period

marijuana (hashish) Orally, smoking 2-8 weeks
Cocaine Intranasal, inhalation, oral, injection, sublingual, rectal, vaginal 24-60 hours
Amphetamines (ecstasy) Oral, inhalation, intravenous, smoking 24–72 h
Opioids Injection, oral, inhalation, smoking, sublingual, rectal, vaginal 36 — 72 hours
Phenyl cyclohexyl piperidine (phencyclidine, PCP) Orally or intranasally Up to 7 days
LSD Oral, injection 2 hours — 2 weeks

To accurately determine the type of narcotic substance, it is possible to use ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and chromatography.

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