Grant: Project Grant

Substance use is a major global problem. The use of opioids is rising and substance use during pregnancy is more and more a problem. Little is known about substance use among Canadian pregnant women. Canada is only second to the US in opioid use among high income countries. This is concerning as fetuses exposed to substance use during pregnancy are at risk of low birth weight, premature birth, death, and potential health and behavioral issues. Mothers with substance use may be at risk of long term health effects, even after quitting. The long term outcomes of mothers with substance use and their infants are poorly understood. Better knowledge of health issues in women with substance use is necessary for physicians to better care for patients and prevent future health problems. The aim of this project is to assess long term health outcomes of women with substance use and their infants in Quebec. We will look at hospitalization data for all women who ever gave birth in Quebec, Canada from 1989 to 2016. We will identify women with substance use before or during pregnancy and any health problems they had during delivery. We will follow the women and their children over time in the years after pregnancy to determine how substance use affects their later health. This study will provide essential information on the growing problem of substance use during pregnancy in Canada. We will provide detailed data on the long term outcomes related to substance abuse and shed light on health issues of women and children that could be prevented earlier in life. Better knowledge of long term consequences of substance use for both women and children will improve identification and clinical management of affected patients.