Substance Use & Abuse

If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, it is important for you to know that drinking alcohol and smoking are harmful to your developing baby. Drugs, too, can be harmful so it is important to talk to your health care provider before taking any drugs, even over the counter drugs such as cough syrup or muscle relaxants. Your developing baby can be harmed by alcohol, tobacco or drugs.

If you are already pregnant and feel you are not able to stop using any substances, see your doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife right away to discuss supports available to you. Manitoba has many programs that can help you stop or reduce smoking, drinking or taking drugs. This is especially important when pregnant because substance use can harm your developing baby and result in life-long impairments and challenges. Stopping or cutting down on substance use at any time is helpful to your baby. It is never too late.

It can be difficult to quit on your own. Seek help and support from your health care provider, midwife, other professionals, friends, family members and all others who will provide you with the support you need.

Manitoba has a wide variety of resources available to assist women to stop using harmful substances during pregnancy, from community resources to residential care programs. For more information on how you can have a healthy pregnancy, contact Healthy Child Manitoba.

For more information on substance use, a good place to start is The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba.

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