Drug Screen to ID Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Drug Screen to ID Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Maternal drug use while pregnant can contribute to subsequent neonatal drug withdrawal. Early identification of at risk neonates for drug withdrawal can be accomplished with implementation of universal drug screenings when hospitalized for an infant's delivery. This article explores drug abuse nationally and in the state of Ohio specifically. It examines possible causation of the growing epidemic of drug usage among women and the impact of intrauterine drug exposure on neonates as exhibited by neonatal abstinence syndrome. The process of universal maternal drug screening implementation to identify neonates at risk for drug withdrawal post-birth in one Ohio metropolis is discussed.
The incidence of drug abuse is on the rise. According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 22.6 million or 8.9% of the population 12 years and older were current (within the past month) users of illicit drugs. Illicit drugs were defined as marijuana/hashish, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, and non-medical use of psychotherapeutics. This rise was statistically significant from the 8.3% rate in 2002. Illicit drug users 26 years or older equated to 12.8 million people. Marijuana was the most commonly abused drug with an increase from 5.8% in 2007 to 6.9% in 2010 or 4.5 million people and pain killers was the second most common class of drugs being abused. Users of pain reliever medications rose from 1.5 million to 1.9 million nationally including use among pregnant women and exposure of the unborn. One methodology to address earlier detection of infants exposed to intrauterine drugs is universal drug screenings of mothers when they are hospitalized for impending deliveries.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Maternal drug use while pregnant can contribute to subsequent neonatal drug withdrawal. Early identification of at risk neonates for drug withdrawal can be accomplished with implementation of universal drug screenings when hospitalized for an infant's delivery. This article explores drug abuse nationally and in the state of Ohio specifically. It examines possible causation of the growing epidemic of drug usage among women and the impact of intrauterine drug exposure on neonates as exhibited by neonatal abstinence syndrome. The process of universal maternal drug screening implementation to identify neonates at risk for drug withdrawal post-birth in one Ohio metropolis is discussed.
Introduction
The incidence of drug abuse is on the rise. According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 22.6 million or 8.9% of the population 12 years and older were current (within the past month) users of illicit drugs. Illicit drugs were defined as marijuana/hashish, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, and non-medical use of psychotherapeutics. This rise was statistically significant from the 8.3% rate in 2002. Illicit drug users 26 years or older equated to 12.8 million people. Marijuana was the most commonly abused drug with an increase from 5.8% in 2007 to 6.9% in 2010 or 4.5 million people and pain killers was the second most common class of drugs being abused. Users of pain reliever medications rose from 1.5 million to 1.9 million nationally including use among pregnant women and exposure of the unborn. One methodology to address earlier detection of infants exposed to intrauterine drugs is universal drug screenings of mothers when they are hospitalized for impending deliveries.
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