Zeitschrift für Suchtforschung und -therapie

Abstrakt

Preconception Substance Use: A Call to Raise Awareness of Potential Adverse Effects

Kirsten A Oinonen and Meghan Richards

Although a great deal of behaviour change still needs to occur, North American society shows signs that there is a growing realization and acceptance of the knowledge that substance use during pregnancy can cause irreversible brain damage and harm to the fetus. However, the general public does not seem to be aware of the research suggesting that one’s life history of substance use prior to conception may also adversely affect one’s future children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren [1-3]. For example, most women do not stop using alcohol until they know they are pregnant [4,5] and a Canadian study examining women’s beliefs about the preconception period suggested that only 38% of respondents believed that women should stop alcohol use in the preconception period and only 28% believed that men should do the same.