At least six categories of psychosocial risk factors have been studied as relevant to drug use among women. These factors include a history of childhood sexual abuse, a family history of alcohol or drug problems, the male partner's alcohol or drug use, current depression, social support, and homelessness or transience. The lack of methodological rigor in these studies results in large variations in prevalence rates. Factors affecting the results include the reliance of some research on case studies; differences in definitions, survey instruments, and populations studied; lack of comparison groups; and inadequate sample sizes. The two widely used research techniques are urinalysis and self-reports through questionnaires or medical records. Each method has advantages and limitations. The literature consistently cites the six types of risk factors and indicates the multiple factors contribute to drug use during pregnancy. Nevertheless, additional multivariate studies are needed before it will be possible to clarify the implications for program planning and policy. Understanding the antecedents of drug use during pregnancy will help in the design of more effective prevention and treatment strategies. 116 references