Marijuana Use During Pregnancy Increasingly Common, Linked To Stressful Life Events

Black and white photo of pregnant woman wearing a flowered dress, holding her belly
UArizona News
As marijuana use continues to become more common, additional research is needed to identify all of the health effects for both mother and child, as well as to identify ways to help women abstain from marijuana use during pregnancy. A new study led by Dr. Alicia Allen, assistant professor with the UArizona College of Medicine-Tucson and BIO5 member, has found that women who experience more stressful life events in the year before childbirth have greater odds of marijuana use before and during pregnancy. This is the first study looking at more recent stressful events, such as having a sick family member, financial problems or domestic problems, with the ultimate aim to identifying effective interventions to reduce marijuana use during the perinatal period.