Prenatal Drug Exposure and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

Although every newborn faces incredible changes at the moment of birth, those that experience Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) are faced with an extra challenge. NAS is defined as “a group of problems that occur in a newborn who was exposed to addictive opiate drugs while in the mother’s womb” (MedlinePlus, 2014). Prenatal exposure to opiates, narcotics, and other drugs can create unwitting newborn addicts whose bodies have become physiologically dependent on their mother’s drug(s) of choice. For these newborns at the moment of birth, even as their heart takes sole responsibility for circulating blood, and their lungs learn to suck in air instead of amniotic fluid, their entire body is wracked by dangerous withdrawals.

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Unfortunately the sad reality is that these newborns are facing the harsh consequences of actions well beyond their control. While information about the risks of drug use during pregnancy is easily accessible and commonly shared by healthcare providers, many mothers still use or abuse dangerous drugs during pregnancy (Bersani, Corsello, Mastandrea, Patacchiola, Voligno, Garofalo, & Dotta). Besides the physiological implications of NAS, there are also social and legal implications of drug use during pregnancy. Any physician who identifies NAS or other symptoms of drug exposure in a newborn is required by the 2003 Keeping Children and Families Safe Act to report the findings to their state Child Protective Services. Procedures and guidelines for responding to these reports vary from state to state. But as of 2006, 13 states and the District of Columbia identify prenatal drug exposure as a form of child abuse or neglect which can have implications on the mother's ability to keep her baby after birth (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2009).

The impact of prenatal drug exposure ranges from physiological, to social, and beyond. Healthcare providers must understand the challenges faced by both the mother and the baby when NAS or other symptoms of drug exposure occur in a newborn. Physicians, nurses, midwives, and others involved in the birthing process must know how to intervene effectively and respond compassionately when babies are born addicted.

References

Bersani, I., Corsello, M., Mastandrea, M., Patacchiola, V., Foligno, S., Garofalo, V., & Dotta, A. (2013). Neonatal abstinence syndrome. Early Human Development 89(4) S85-S87.

MedlinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2014). Neonatal abstinence syndrome. Retrieved from www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007313.htm

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2009). Protecting children in families affected by substance use disorders. Child Abuse and Neglect User Manuel Series. Retrieved from www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/substanceuse.pdf#page=51&view=CHAPTER 6 The Role of Child Protective Services When Substance Use Disorders AreIdentified