Postpartum substance use and depressive symptoms: a review.
Abstract
National survey data suggest that new mothers have high prevalences of alcohol and
illicit drug use. Depression correlates with substance use, and new mothers with postpartum
depression may be at high risk for substance use. Understanding postpartum substance
use and its relationship to postpartum depression can inform future research and intervention.
A literature search was conducted resulting in 12 studies published from 1999-2012
examining postpartum alcohol use, drug use, or combined postpartum depression and
substance use. Postpartum alcohol (prevalence range 30.1%-49%) and drug use (4.5%-8.5%)
were lower than use among not pregnant, not postpartum women (41.5%-57.5%, 7.6%-10.6%,
respectively) but higher than use among pregnant women (5.4%-11.6%, 3.7%-4.3%, respectively).
Correlates of postpartum problem drinking were being unemployed, unmarried, and a
cigarette smoker. Prevalence of drug use was highest among white new mothers, followed
by blacks and Hispanics, but black new mothers appeared at greater risk of drug use.
No identified studies examined correlates of postpartum drug use beyond race/ethnicity.
Postpartum depressive symptoms were prevalent among postpartum substance users and
those with a substance use history (19.7%-46%). The postpartum period is a critical
time. Prevalent substance use and the scarcity of studies warrant research to identify
means to reduce maternal substance use.
Type
Journal articleSubject
HumansDepression, Postpartum
Substance-Related Disorders
Adaptation, Psychological
Alcohol Drinking
Mothers
Postpartum Period
Pregnancy
Female
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/19966Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1080/03630242.2013.804025Publication Info
Chapman, Shawna L Carroll; & Wu, Li-Tzy (2013). Postpartum substance use and depressive symptoms: a review. Women & health, 53(5). pp. 479-503. 10.1080/03630242.2013.804025. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/19966.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Li-Tzy Wu
Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Education/Training: Pre- and post-doctoral training in mental health service research,
psychiatric epidemiology (NIMH T32), and addiction epidemiology (NIDA T32) from Johns
Hopkins University School of Public Health (Maryland); Fellow of the NIH Summer Institute
on the Design and Conduct of Randomized Clinical Trials.Director: Duke Community Based
Substance Use Disorder Research Program.Research interests: COVID-19, Opioid misuse,
Opioid overdose, Opioid use disorder

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