Family Medicine Researchers Studied Tobacco Cigarette and Cannabis Use Among New Mothers

In this research, we studied the prevalence of tobacco cigarette and cannabis use among US new mothers. A significant number of women who quit smoking during pregnancy relapse shortly after childbirth. In addition, cannabis use prevalence has increased among reproductive age women and there has been a growing concern about cannabis use among mothers, postnatally. We used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and reported an increase in cannabis use prevalence among new mothers from 2005-2018. We did not observe robust changes tobacco use prevalence. Mothers who breastfed were less likely to use tobacco cigarettes or cannabis compared to mothers who did not breastfeed. With the rise of cannabis use among new mothers in the US, studies on the effects of infant exposure to cannabis through breastmilk or secondhand smoke are needed. Read More.