Preventing the Use of Marijuana: Focus on Women and Pregnancy
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EVIDENCE-BASED RESOURCE GUIDE SERIES Preventing the Use of Marijuana: Focus on Women and Pregnancy Acknowledgments This report was prepared for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under contract number HHSS2832017000651I/HHSS28342001T with SAMHSA. Thomas Clarke served as contracting officer representative. Disclaimer The views, opinions, and content of this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of SAMHSA. Nothing in this document constitutes a direct or indirect endorsement by SAMHSA of any non-federal entity’s products, services, or policies, and any reference to non-federal entity’s products, services, or policies should not be construed as such. Public Domain Notice All material appearing in this publication is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA. Citation of the source is appreciated. However, this publication may not be reproduced or distributed for a fee without the specific, written authorization of the Office of Communications, SAMHSA. Electronic Access This publication may be downloaded from http://store.samhsa.gov Recommended Citation Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Preventing the Use of Marijuana: Focus on Women and Pregnancy. SAMHSA Publication No. PEP19-PL-Guide-2 Rockville, MD: National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2019. Originating Office National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, SAMHSA Publication No. PEP19-PL-Guide-2. Nondiscrimination Notice SAMHSA complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. SAMHSA cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, ni edad. Preventing the Use of Marijuana: Focus on Women and Pregnancy Acknowledgments i ii Preventing the Use of Marijuana: Focus on Women and Pregnancy MESSAGE FROM THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES As the first U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), I am pleased to present this new resource: Preventing the Use of Marijuana: Focus on Women and Pregnancy. In response to the charge of the 21st Century Cures Act to disseminate information on evidence-based practices and service delivery models, the National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Lab has developed the Evidence-Based Resource Guide Series focused on the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders and mental illnesses. With this guide, SAMHSA’s goal is to inform women and their health care providers of the potential effects of marijuana use, especially during pregnancy and the postpartum period. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated 53.2 million people used illicit drugs in the past year among those who are 12 and older. The most commonly used illicit drug in the past year was marijuana, which was used by 43.5 million people. In 2017, NSDUH showed that pregnant women were using substances in greater number, including significant increases in daily or nearly daily marijuana use. In the 2018 NSDUH data, the news is more encouraging, as there was a significant decline in illicit drug use, including marijuana, by pregnant women. However, NSDUH showed daily use of marijuana by women who are not pregnant continued to increase.1 Preventing the Use of Marijuana: Focus on Women and Pregnancy addresses the established health risks of marijuana use to pregnant women and their children, as well as the expanding evidence base on other potential harms of use during pregnancy. I encourage you to use this guide to be informed of the adverse health consequences and potential effects of marijuana use, and to promote healthy decision-making among pregnant and postpartum women. Elinore F. McCance-Katz, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Reference List 1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2019). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, SAMHSA. Preventing the Use of Marijuana: Focus on Women and Pregnancy Message from the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use iii iv Preventing the Use of Marijuana: Focus on Women and Pregnancy Evidence-Based Resource Guide FOREWORD Series Overview The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services With this Resource Guide, SAMHSA’s goal is to Administration (SAMHSA), and specifically, the inform women of the potential effects of marijuana National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy use, especially during pregnancy and during the Laboratory, is pleased to fulfill the charge of the 21st postpartum period, and to promote healthy decision- Century Cures Act and disseminate information on making among this population. This guide examines evidence-based practices and service delivery models the scientific literature on the risk factors for and to prevent substance misuse and help individuals with adverse health consequences of marijuana use during substance use disorders (SUD), serious mental illnesses pregnancy. It examines emerging and best practices to (SMI), and serious emotional disturbances (SED) get prevent or reduce such use. The guide also identifies the treatment and support that they need. key components of peer-reviewed models and discusses the challenges and strategies involved in Individuals in treatment and recovery vary in many implementing prevention programs. ways. They face different mental and substance use disorders, may have co-occurring disorders, live in Each guide in this series was developed through input diverse parts of the country, and face a variety of from a technical expert panel representing the federal, socio-economic factors that help or hinder recovery. state, and non-governmental sectors. Panels included All these factors bring complexities to evaluating the accomplished scientists, service providers, community effectiveness of services, treatments, and supports for administrators, and federal and state policy makers. the prevention and treatment of mental and substance use disorders. The expert panel members for this guide provided input based on their knowledge of health care systems, Despite variations, substantial evidence is available implementation of evidence-based practices, provision to understand the types of services, treatments, and of services, and policies that foster change. supports that prevent and reduce substance use, lessen mental illness symptoms, and improve individuals’ quality of life. Communities are eager to take advantage One Piece of a of what has been learned to help individuals in need. Multipronged Approach Research shows that implementing evidence-based The Evidence-Based Resource Guide Series is a practices requires a comprehensive, multipronged comprehensive and modular set of resources intended approach. This guide is one piece of an overall to support healthcare providers, health care system approach to implement and sustain change. Users administrators, and community members to meet are encouraged to review the SAMHSA website for the needs of individuals at risk for, experiencing, additional tools and technical assistance opportunities. or recovering from substance use disorder and mental illness. Preventing the Use of Marijuana: Focus on Women and Pregnancy Foreword 1 Content of the Guide Focus of the Guide Each guide contains a foreword and five chapters. The chapters are Currently, there is no evidence on modular, and do not need to be read in chronological order. individual programs for the prevention of marijuana use among pregnant and postpartum women, and there FW Evidence-Based Resource Guide is a need to address this research Series Overview gap. This guide draws from evidence- based practices and strategies for Introduction to the series. the prevention of substance use issues (e.g., alcohol, tobacco). 1 Issue Brief Elements from these evidence- based approaches may apply to Overview of the issue of marijuana use among pregnant and marijuana use prevention, and may postpartum women. help clinicians and community- based providers address the risks associated with the use of marijuana 2 What Research Tells Us by pregnant and postpartum women. Review of evidence-based prevention practices, policies, and There is a misperception of safety programs for addressing marijuana use among pregnant and associated with marijuana use. Some postpartum women. women report strong beliefs about using “natural remedies” such as marijuana to address pregnancy- 3 Examples of Effective Prevention related symptoms such as nausea Programs and anxiety. Highlights from a sample of programs that use evidence- Before clinicians and community- based practices to prevent substance use by pregnant and based prevention providers can postpartum women. communicate about the adverse health consequences that may be associated with marijuana use before, 4 Implementing