Sunday, December 3, 2023
| % (95% CI) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | Past 12 months drinking* | Past 30 days drinking* | Past 30 days binge drinking* |
| Overall | 64.7 (62.1–67.3) | 9.8 (8.5–11.1) | 4.5 (3.7–5.4) |
| Age group (yrs) | |||
| <18 | 39.0 (27.3–52.1) | —† | —† |
| 18–25 | 61.2 (58.0–64.3) | 9.9 (7.9–12.2) | 6.0 (4.5–8.1) |
| 26–34 | 68.2 (64.2–72.0) | 9.4 (7.6–11.5) | 3.9 (2.9–5.3) |
| ≥35 | 63.1 (55.5–70.1) | 11.1 (7.3–16.6) § | —† |
| Race/Ethnicity | |||
| White, non-Hispanic | 74.9 (71.4–78.0) | 9.9 (8.2–11.8) | 4.0 (3.0–5.3) |
| Black, non-Hispanic | 56.7 (51.0–62.3) | 13.7 (9.8–18.9) | 7.0 (4.6–10.9) § |
| Hispanic | 48.0 (42.2–53.7) | 7.0 (4.5–10.7) § | —† |
| Other | 52.9 (44.0–61.7) | 8.4 (4.8–14.4) | —† |
| Income § | |||
| <$20,000 | 50.5 (45.2–55.8) | 9.7 (7.3–12.8) | 6.3 (4.7–8.3) |
| $20,000–$74,999 | 61.6 (57.9–65.2) | 8.7 (7.0–10.8) | 3.9 (2.8–5.4) |
| ≥$75,000 | 78.3 (74.0–82.1) | 11.4 (9.2–14.0) | 4.3 (3.0–6.0) |
| Marital status ¶ | |||
| Married | 66.2 (62.2–70.0) | 9.0 (7.3–11.0) | 3.1 (2.2–4.3) |
| Not married | 63.6 (59.9–67.1) | 11.0 (9.1–13.3) | 6.5 (5.0–8.4) |
| Education ¶ | |||
| ≤High school | 49.2 (45.3–53.0) | 8.9 (6.9–11.4) | 5.3 (3.8–7.6) |
| >High school | 73.3 (70.0–76.3) | 10.3 (8.8–12.0) | 4.0 (3.1–5.2) |
| Employment ¶ | |||
| Full time | 76.3 (73.1–79.1) | 11.6 (9.7–13.9) | 4.6 (3.4–6.2) |
| Part time | 62.5 (57.2–67.5) | 8.7 (5.8–12.8) | 3.4 (1.9–6.2) § |
| Unemployed/Other** | 53.5 (49.3–57.7) | 8.3 (6.4–10.6) | 4.8 (3.4–6.6) |
| Insurance | |||
| Medicaid | 54.9 (51.3–58.5) | 7.6 (6.0–9.5) | 3.8 (2.8–5.0) |
| Private | 73.9 (70.2–77.3) | 10.6 (8.6–13.0) | 4.0 (3.0–5.5) |
| Uninsured/Other†† | 53.2 (46.2–60.1) | 13.5 (9.4–18.9) | 9.5 (5.7–15.4) § |
| Urban/Rural§§ | |||
| Metropolitan | 65.7 (61.6–69.5) | 10.3 (8.4–12.7) | 3.8 (2.7–5.4) |
| Micropolitan | 64.5 (60.6–68.2) | 9.3 (7.1–12.0) | 4.9 (3.7–6.6) |
| Rural | 61.0 (55.8–66.0) | 8.3 (5.9–11.7) | 6.3 (3.9–9.8) § |
| Trimester¶¶ | |||
| First | 76.1 (72.7–79.3) | 19.6 (16.8–22.7) | 10.5 (8.5–13.0) |
| Second or third | 59.8 (56.5–63.1) | 4.7 (3.5–6.4) | 1.4 (0.9–2.1) |
Table 1. Weighted prevalence of past 12 months and past 30 days drinking and past 30 days binge drinking in 3,006 pregnant females aged 12–44 years, by selected characteristics — National Survey on Drug Use and Health, United States, 2015–2018
Abbreviation: CI = confidence interval.
*Past 12 months use regardless of whether there was also past 30 days use; past 30 days drinking regardless of whether there was also past 30 days binge drinking; binge drinking = consuming four or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past 30 days.
†Estimates are not presented because the relative standard error was >30%.
§Estimate might be unstable because the relative standard error is 20%–30%.
¶The age group <18 years was omitted for income, marital status, education, and employment.
**Other = those not in the labor force.
††Other insurance not otherwise specified.
§§https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/rural-urban-continuum-codes.
¶¶Overall, 1.3% of females reported an unknown trimester of pregnancy and were not included in the table.
| % (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Substance use pattern | Past 12 months drinking† | Past 30 days (current) drinking |
| All pregnant females (N = 3,006*) | ||
| Any alcohol use | 64.7 (62.1–67.3) | 9.8 (8.5–11.1) |
| Alcohol use only | 37.7 (35.7–39.7) | 6.0 (5.0–7.2) |
| Alcohol and ≥1 additional substance | 27.0 (25.1–29.0) | 3.7 (2.9–4.7) |
| Other substances used§ | ||
| Tobacco¶ | 19.6 (18.0–21.3) | 2.7 (2.1–3.6) |
| Marijuana | 14.2 (12.3–16.3) | 2.0 (1.4–2.8) |
| Opioids** | 4.5 (3.5–5.8) | —†† |
| Other†† | 6.2 (5.0–7.7) | —†† |
| Pregnant females who drank in the past 12 months (n = 1,851*) or in the past 30 days (n = 282*) | ||
| Alcohol use only | 58.3 (56.0–60.6) | 61.8 (53.9–69.2) |
| Alcohol and ≥1 additional substance | 41.7 (39.4–44.0) | 38.2 (30.8–46.1) |
| Other substances used§ | ||
| Tobacco¶ | 30.3 (28.0–32.8) | 28.1 (21.7–35.6) |
| Marijuana | 21.9 (19.0–25.0) | 20.6 (14.5–28.3) |
| Opioids** | 7.0 (5.5–8.9) | —†† |
| Other§§ | 9.76 (7.8–11.8) | —†† |
Table 2. Weighted prevalence of substance use patterns (past 12 months and past 30 days) in pregnant females aged 12–44 years (N = 3,006*) who drank alcohol in the past 12 months (n = 1,851*) or the past 30 days (n = 282*) — National Survey on Drug Use and Health, United States, 2015–2018
Abbreviation: CI = confidence interval.
*Unweighted.
†Past 12 months use, regardless of whether there was also drinking in the past 30 days (current drinking).
§Not mutually exclusive.
¶Includes cigarettes, cigars, or smokeless tobacco.
**Includes prescription pain reliever misuse and heroin use.
††Estimates are not presented because the relative standard error was >30%.
§§Includes use of cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, methamphetamines, and the misuse of sedatives, stimulants, and tranquilizers.
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What is already known about this topic?
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders; however, approximately one in nine pregnant females report current drinking. Little is known about the co-use of other substances by females who drink during pregnancy.
What is added by this report?
Pregnant respondents in the first trimester reported higher current alcohol use than respondents in the second or third trimester. Among first trimester respondents, 19.6% reported current alcohol use and 10.5% reported binge drinking; among second or third trimester respondents, current drinking and binge drinking were reported by 4.7% and 1.4%, respectively. Approximately 40% of pregnant females reporting current drinking also reported current use of other substances.
What are the implications for public health?
Co-use of other substances is common among females who drink alcohol during pregnancy. Screening and interventions for alcohol and other substances in pregnancy could improve the health of mothers and their children.
