3.1.4. Sub-Theme 1.4: Substance Use/Abuse of Mothers during Pregnancy

Many participants consumed alcohol, cigarettes, or illicit drugs during their pregnancies, for example, Participant 14 stated: " ... about five liters ... I just drank a lot". Only a small number of participants declared a total lack of any substance use during pregnancy. More than half of the participants revealed that they smoked cigarettes during their pregnancies, as stated by Participant 11: "I smoked a lot of cigarettes. Smoked cigarettes the whole day". A few participants acknowledged using drugs during their pregnancy, which included dagga (Marijuana), Mandrax, or Methamphetamine, referred to as Tik in South Africa. Although very few participants verbalized an understanding of the harmful effects of their own substance abuse on their child, Participant 17 acknowledged: "Tik and Mandrax, that is why the child was so sickly. And at school too. It is almost as if the drugs left something behind. This is why she takes so long, struggle to think".
