A Public Health Response to Opioid Use in Pregnancy

dc.contributor.authorPatrick, S. W., & Schiff, D. M.
dc.date.accessioned2018-07-11T15:33:16Z
dc.date.available2018-07-11T15:33:16Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractThe use of opioids during pregnancy has grown rapidly in the past decade. As opioid use during pregnancy increased, so did complications from their use, including neonatal abstinence syndrome. Several state governments responded to this increase by prosecuting and incarcerating pregnant women with substance use disorders; however, this approach has no proven benefits for maternal or infant health and may lead to avoidance of prenatal care and a decreased willingness to engage in substance use disorder treatment programs. A public health response, rather than a punitive approach to the opioid epidemic and substance use during pregnancy, is critical, including the following: a focus on preventing unintended pregnancies and improving access to contraception; universal screening for alcohol and other drug use in women of childbearing age; knowledge and informed consent of maternal drug testing and reporting practices; improved access to comprehensive obstetric care, including opioid-replacement therapy; gender-specific substance use treatment programs; and improved funding for social services and child welfare systems. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports the value of this clinical document as an educational toolen_US
dc.identifier.citationPatrick, S. W., & Schiff, D. M. (2017). A public health response to opioid use in pregnancy. Pediatrics, e20164070.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2017/02/16/peds.2016-4070
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/3880
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherPediatricsen_US
dc.subjectopioidsen_US
dc.subjectsubstance abuseen_US
dc.subjectprenatal drug exposureen_US
dc.titleA Public Health Response to Opioid Use in Pregnancyen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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