Research highlights want for training round results, dangers of marijuana use
A brand new examine from the College of Georgia Faculty of Public Well being discovered that about 6% of pregnant ladies reported utilizing marijuana over the past month, and plenty of didn’t affiliate it with well being dangers. The examine highlights the significance of training surrounding marijuana use throughout being pregnant, mentioned lead researcher Mohammad Rifat Haider.
Printed in The American Journal on Addictions, the examine utilized responses from the Nationwide Survey on Drug Use and Well being. Amongst 4,338 pregnant moms, 5.7% reported utilizing marijuana over the past month.
Inside that group, 70.9% perceived little to no danger related to marijuana use throughout being pregnant, although it has been related to low delivery weight, untimely delivery and neurodevelopmental results.
Whereas different substances, like alcohol or unlawful medicine, have clearly recognized adversarial results, marijuana has some conflicting perceptions, mentioned Haider, an assistant professor in well being coverage and administration. It may be seen as useful in reference to most cancers sufferers searching for to reduce nausea, however research have additionally proven dangerous unintended effects of continued use.
Throughout being pregnant, nevertheless, the proof clearly factors to damaging results, Haider mentioned.
2 of three pregnant ladies who used pot reside in states the place medical marijuana is authorized
Marijuana use is authorized for leisure use in 25 states and or medical functions in 14 extra. Two-thirds of the pregnant ladies who reported utilizing marijuana lived in a state the place medical marijuana was authorized on the time of the survey.
Mohammad Rifat Haider
Many of the pregnant ladies who used marijuana had been additionally of their first trimester, and use decreased because the being pregnant progressed. Girls of their first trimester could have seen medical marijuana as a method to fight morning illness, Haider mentioned.
“Marijuana is seen as a remedy for nausea, however that’s not the way in which it needs to be handled in being pregnant as a result of it’s dangerous for the mom and the fetus,” Haider mentioned.
Girls ought to seek the advice of doctor to fight nausea, not flip to marijuana
Reasonably than flip to medical marijuana, ladies ought to speak to their OBGYN about pharmaceuticals that may restrict nausea and vomiting, Haider mentioned.
And medical doctors needs to be ready to deal with misconceptions about how marijuana can have an effect on these signs throughout being pregnant.
“When medical marijuana is accessible, when it’s authorized, it’s accessible within the pharmacy. It’s extensively accessible,” he mentioned. “So we have to be additional cautious in these states and make strong coverage that helps make pregnant ladies conscious of the detrimental results or marijuana use.”
Improved training round pot use in being pregnant essential
One other issue related to marijuana use was psychological well being issues or main depressive episodes. That is seen with many different substances, Haider mentioned, the place if there are unmet well being wants, people usually tend to expertise a substance use dysfunction.
All of those numbers spotlight a necessity for improved training efforts round marijuana use in being pregnant. Docs needs to be ready to display screen people for previous substance use together with common marijuana use, and they need to present data on potential adversarial results of marijuana, particularly in states the place medical marijuana is authorized.
Proof reveals that in being pregnant, marijuana use is detrimental for each mom and baby.” —Mohammad Rifat Haider, Faculty of Public Well being
“Lengthy story brief, it is a very weak inhabitants, and proof reveals that in being pregnant, marijuana use is detrimental for each mom and baby,” Haider mentioned. “There must be coverage course from the state to have these discussions.”
Co-authors on the examine embody ORISE postdoctoral fellow on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention Sabrina Karim, College of Kentucky Faculty of Public Well being affiliate professor Jayani Jayawardhana, UGA Faculty of Public Well being professor Nathan B. Hansen, and Ohio College Division of Social Drugs affiliate professor and director of World Well being Institute Zelalem T. Haile.
