ABSTRACT

This chapter explores medical and social aspects of substance use among young pregnant women, including prevalence of substance use, psychiatric and somatic comorbidity, and psychosocial considerations. The Ministry of Justice, however, set the lower limit of the age group at 18 and the upper limit at 20 years of age, whereas the National Health Survey for England classifies young people as the age group between 16 and 24. Young adults are a high-risk group for initiation and intensification of smoking behavior. It is estimated that more than 20 per cent of young people smoke during pregnancy; in the age-group 15–19, more than 45 per cent smoke during pregnancy. Many young women suffering from substance use disorders have a social family background in which physical and psychological domestic violence/abuse is common and they show low frustration tolerance coupled with a chaotic lifestyle.