COMMENTARY ON DRUG USE : Treatment Programs Are Crucial to Pregnant Women, Babies : Without proper help, some adult users may never break the intergenerational cycle of substance abuse.

In the first major study of its magnitude, the state Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs commissioned researchers to take a closer look at the serious problem of drug-using pregnant women in California. In 1992, 30,000 women were tested anonymously for alcohol and other drug use at hospital admission before giving birth. One in nine women tested positive for alcohol or other drug use at admission for delivery. Statewide, that’s 69,000 mothers, or 11% of the women.

Findings of the study confirm the need for broad-based programs emphasizing prevention and treatment.

Although African-American women had the highest overall prevalence rates and Latinos the lowest, the projected numbers of drug-exposed births are highest among whites and Latinos, who together comprise over 80% of California births in 1992.

Results also suggest that different regions throughout California have different drug-use habits.

For instance, in Orange County, overall rates are lower than average compared to the state, but in terms of projected numbers of substance-exposed births, the outcome appears very different. Orange County moves to the top of the list as one of the top five regions.

Overwhelmingly, alcohol presents the biggest concern for babies, with 7% of delivering women testing positive, the highest rate presented in the study to date. For pregnant teen-agers, alcohol emerges as the No. 1 drug of choice.

State government recognized the problem of drug-exposed babies and their drug-using mothers and added $25 million to the state budget in 1991 for alcohol and other drug-treatment programs.

For the 1993-94 fiscal year, $42 million has been appropriated for perinatal treatment. The administration also added funding to conduct a prevalence study to identify the nature and extent of the problem and provide policy guidance.

While the allotment may seem extravagant during tough times, it proves to be money well spent. From a purely economic perspective, the neonatal intensive care cost for one baby averages $36,000. For 69,000 babies, that is roughly $2.5 billion, not including costs over their lifetime for special education and social services. Nor does it include the enormous personal, family and community costs.

Based on this new research, we can better identify pregnant women’s drug-use patterns. We know that Anglo women most commonly use alcohol and tobacco, African-American women use tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs, and Latino and Asian women most commonly use alcohol. For certain groups like Spanish-speaking women, new strategies must be developed to meet the needs of groups not reached with “traditional” media campaigns.

We now also have a clearer understanding of how perinatal drug use varies by the source of medical payment. For example, women receiving financial assistance are twice as likely to test positive for tobacco and illicit drug use than those who carry private insurance.

Although alcohol and drug use crosses all economic boundaries, this finding poses a larger issue--the feminization of poverty and the maladies associated with poverty. Most of the women testing positive for alcohol and other drug use are unmarried, single parents.

Problems associated with a condition involving addiction to alcohol and other drugs requires treatment. But without adequate drug treatment and prevention as well as appropriate incentive to become contributing members of our society, some women are trapped in an intergenerational cycle of drug use.

Pregnant women who use drugs put their baby at risk for serious health complications.

In Orange County, tobacco and alcohol pose the greatest problems for pregnant women. Use of tobacco during pregnancy may increase the risk of low birth weight, spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. Drinking alcohol while pregnant may result in low birth weight, facial defects, small head size, learning and behavior problems, or fetal alcohol syndrome.

There are treatment centers in Orange County and statewide that can help women from harming themselves and their unborn babies. This research dramatically underscores the need for continued attention to addicted women and their children not only in Orange County, but within California.

This is a wake-up call to pregnant drug users in Orange County to stop doing so. There are drug-treatment programs within the county that can help you. These babies are California’s future police officers, teachers, physicians, artists, pilots and factory workers. Maybe even a future U.S. President.

Let’s continue to create policies based on fact and provide a path to change. Let’s continue the hard work Orange County has done for pregnant women with substance abuse problems. Given the opportunity, women and their babies deserve a chance.