Alcohol enhancement of marihuana‐induced fetotoxicity

Abstract

In two separate studies marihuana and alcohol were administered, either separately or in combination, to pregnant mice or rats. Control animals were given vehicle only or were nontreated. Marihuana-, alcohol-, and vehicle-treated animals were pair-fed and pair watered with animals given marihuana plus alcohol, to control for drug-related undernutrition. The combination of marihuana and alcohol caused a 100% fetomortality in mice and a 73% fetomortality in rats, whereas neither marihuana nor alcohol alone had any effects on fetomortality that differed significantly from vehicle treatment. These studies suggest a potential danger to pregnancy resulting from the combined use of two commonly used drugs that is far greater than that associated with use of either drug alone.