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A study was performed in Uruguay to estimate the prevalence of drug consumption during pregnancy. The study consisted of a survey and biological samples to validate the responses and investigate information concerning risks involved in drug consumption during pregnancy. The survey consisted of 9OO face-to-face interviews performed within 48 hours after birth. Perinatal registries were taken from hospital archives. Nine hundred meconium samples were tested for alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, and tranquilizers. The results of the survey indicated consumption during pregnancy of the following: 41.3% tobacco, 36.8% alcohol, 16.3% tranquilizers, 68% caffeine (more than 400 rag/day), and 1.4% illegal drugs. In addition, 8.9% of the pregnancies were unplanned. Among the planned pregnancies, some physicians warned their patients about risks associated with tobacco (34%), alcohol (27%) and illegal drugs (7%). Meconium analysis revealed tobacco (cotinine), 51.8%; alcohol (fatty acid ethyl esters, or FAEES), 43.5%; and cocaine (base paste), 2.5%. Newborns whose mothers smoked tobacco presented statistically lower birth weights: 11% of all newborns at low birth weight, with health problems reported for 14.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]