Prenatal Exposure to Cocaine

Examining possible gender differences among cocaine-dependent outpatients.

“…For example, in part because of intravenous and other forms of cocaine use, prevalence of HIV infection in the United States is increasing more rapidly among women than men, and AIDS has become the primary cause of death among women of reproductive age in several major U.S. cities (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1996;Webber, Shoenbaum, Gourevitch, Buono, & Klein, 1999). In addition, women of childbearing age who abuse cocaine are at increased risk of pregnancy complications (Ness et al, 1999;Schama, Howell, & Byrd, 1998). Finally, data from two National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse suggest a trend toward a greater prevalence of current cocaine use among adolescent women than men (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1999Administration, , 2000.…”