Abstract
The purpose of this study was to understand and compare the perceptions of nurses and social work graduate students about prenatal drug use. The research design utilized for this study was a qualitative, content analysis, exploratory design. The major findings in this study were: 1) nurse's and student medical social worker's perceptions of pregnant substance abusers and positive for toxins babies; 2) nurse's and student medical social worker's knowledge of services available to pregnant substance abusers; and 3) nurse's and student medical social worker's personal and interpersonal experiences with pregnant substance abusers and positive for toxins babies. Implications for social work practice and policy are discussed.