ABSTRACT
A significant amount of evidence has accumulated documenting the deleterious effects of pregnancy smoking. The potential short- and long-term effects for the mother have been well reported and include significantly increased risk of respiratory, cardiovascular, and cancer-related diseases. Substance use, including the most common behaviors of smoking and drinking, is a major health issue for women, regardless of age and reproductive or pregnancy status. Health risks to women can be substantial, and during pregnancy, these risks are shared with the developing fetus. Women who smoke more than half a pack of cigarettes per day during pregnancy are more than twice as likely as nonsmokers to consume alcohol. While tools are available to assist prenatal care providers in accurately identifying women who consume alcohol during pregnancy, a recent study revealed that fewer than one quarter who screen for pregnancy alcohol consumption use a standardized screening tool.
