1. Answering the Questions of Substance Exposure
Introduce self
Read Consent statement
Pass out consents
Pass out pre tests
Wait for completion
WV Perinatal Partnership
Initiative of first lady
Goal to improve health, environment, family situations and future of children in West Virginia
Sandra Young, DNP, RNC

2. Healthy People 2010- Substance Exposure
Abstinence from Smoking During Pregnancy 99%
Smoking Cessation During Pregnancy 30%
Abstinence from Alcohol Use During Pregnancy 94%
Goal to have 100% abstinence of illicit substance use during pregnancy
2010 goals were established in the late 90s early 2000s by Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion the US Dept of Health and Human Services
The 2020 goals are currently being discussed and established.

3. How bad is it? State statistics
4.0 % of women pregnant and not pregnant (2006 MOD) (below national average 8.0 – 8.2%)
114,000 used drugs in 2007 (National Survey on Drug Use and Health)
21000 babies x 4.0 = 840 babies born substance exposed
The number of neonates treated for substance abuse tripled from 2003 to 2007, and was seven times greater in 2006 than 1999
816 mothers admitted to substance use from July 2007 to June 2008, mothers in 2010
103 babies required NICU level 3 care
$41,815 average cost
16 day average LOS
Average cost of NICU care $1000/day
In 2007, 19.9 million Americans were illicit drug users of people 12 years of age and up % of the total population
Marijuana was the most commonly used substance, 6.0 %
Pregnant women % used illicit drugs, 9.7 % of non pregnant
Pregnant teens have higher illicit drug use (22.6%) than those not pregnant (13.3%).
Women are more often poly-substance users.
Women with private insurance have a high use of substances during pregnancy, but most programs target Medicaid

4. What is the Cost? Baxter, Nerhood, and Chaffin (2008)
Forty-eight infants were diagnosed with NAS, with 40 (83.3%) requiring intensive care
total hospital costs $1.7 million
average cost of $36,700
Medicaid paid 42% of cost in states 3 NICUs

5. Who paid?

6. A Blueprint to Improve West Virginia Perinatal Health
Policy Recommendations to Improve Perinatal Health
1. Create a Coordinated Statewide Perinatal System
2. Save State Dollars by Reducing Costly Medical Procedures
3. Reduce Exposure to Tobacco Smoke During Pregnancy
4. Reduce Drug and Alcohol Use Among Pregnant Women
5. Improve Breastfeeding Support and Promotion
6. Improve Perinatal Health and Birth Outcomes of African American Women
7. Recruit and Retain More Obstetric Providers
8. Expand Newborn Screening to 29 Conditions
9. Encourage West Virginia Businesses to Offer Perinatal Worksite Wellness
10. Improve the Oral Health of Pregnant Women Through Policy and Education
WV Perinatal Partnership
Initiative of first lady
Goal to improve health, environment, family situations and future of children in West Virginia
2006 Blueprint to Improve WV Perinatal Health conducted a survey of providers in WV.

7. Why is it a problem?
“Overwhelmed: WV Babies being turned away from intensive care”
(Charleston Gazette, Nov. 2007)
Shortage of NICU Beds
Higher number of high risk infants delivered in rural hospitals
Increase in number of newborns requiring detoxification due to mother using drugs during pregnancy

8. What do we do?
Caring for drug exposed infants can be emotionally, physically, and mentally demanding upon the nurse. Education may provide an understanding of the consequences of substance abuse on the newly born (Raeside, 2003)

9. What do we do?
“Increased awareness of this growing problem is needed so that earlier interventions can be implemented”
(Baxter, Nerhood, and Chaffin, 2008, p1).

10. When can substance use be identified?
Prenatal
Postpartum

11. Prenatal Screening Prenatal Initiative PRISI
PRISI
WV Healthy Start/HAPI project
Helping Appalachian Parents and Infants
In May 2009, Governor Joe Manchin signs the West Virginia Maternal Screening Act into law. This law establishes an advisory council on maternal risk assessment within the Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health. The Department of Health and Human Resources will have rule-making authority to develop a uniform maternal risk screening tool to serve as an alert to medical care providers of the need for greater evaluation and assessment of high-risk pregnancies
The 4P’s9 is a four-question screen specifically designed to quickly identify obstetrical patients at
risk for alcohol or illicit drug use.
Parents Did either of your parents ever have a problem with alcohol or drugs
Partner Does your partner have a problem with alcohol or drugs
Past – have you ever drunk beer, wine, or liquor?
Pregnancy – In the month before you knew you were pregnant, how many cigarettes did you smoke?
In the month before you knew you were pregnant, how much beer, wine, liquor did you drink
Helps identify those with potential problems and promote early intervention.
A study published in April 2009, by Hicks, et al. surveyed new mothers in Canada, 1509 participated % said they would consent to screening of their newborn and 97.6 % said they thought all mothers should consent if infants at risk would be more likely to receive effective treatment.
Wanted to know: What would happen if infant was Positive., who would have access to the information, How effective medical care would be, and likelihood a positive baby would have a problem (Education!!)

12. When should you be more alert
Mother
No prenatal care
Late prenatal care
Limited prenatal care
Unanticipated delivery outside the birthing facility
Drop in delivery (Hospital/doctor hopping)
Abruptio placenta
Maternal admission to drug use during pregnancy
Positive Maternal drug screen

13. When should you be more alert
Infant
Unexplainable premature delivery
Unexplainable small for gestational age
Unexplainable small head circumference
Unexplained seizures, intracranial bleeds, or strokes
Unexplained symptoms that might suggest drug withdrawal:
High pitched crying, irritability, hypertonia, lethargy, disorganized sleep, sneezing, hiccoughs, drooling, diarrhea, feeding problems, or respiratory distress.
Unexplained congenital malformations involving genitourinary tract, abdominal wall or gastrointestinal systems

14. How is substance use identified
Meconium
Urine
Cord Blood
Hair
Umbilical Cord
Urine specific gravity impacts findings of drug screens. Infant concentrations are lower due to fluid loss at birth
Cord blood
Hair
Umbilical Cord – talk briefly about study

15. What did the leaders say?
How do you identify drugs of abuse in pregnant women?
Personal Report 76.2%
Blood Test 28.6%
Urine Test 76.2%
Other %
Prenatal Record

16. What did OB leaders say about substance use in WV?
What do you perceive to be the most common drug exposure in your neonate population?
Methamphetamine 15%
Cocaine 30%
Marijuana 85%
Opiates 35%
Poly substance abuse 5%
Other 30%
Methadone
Cigarettes
Barbiturates in addition to those mentioned
Benzos

17. What substances are most frequently used?
From July 2007 to June 2008
816 or 5% reported drug or alcohol use during pregnancy.
489 (59%) reported using marijuana,
143 methadone
110 cocaine
29 methamphetamine
22 heroin
Alcohol use during pregnancy was reported by 185 mothers.
Poly-substance use was also identified, with 117 mothers admitting to poly-substance use
(Tolliver, 2008).

18. 2010 172 alcohol <1% 75 cocaine <1% 669 marijuana 3.6%
231 methadone 1.3%
30 heroin <1%
50 methamphetamine <1%
446 other opioids 2.4%
1501 drugs 8.3%
Total 9.2%

19. What are the effects of these substances?
Marijuana
Cocaine
Methamphetamine
Opiates, Methadone, Heroin

20. Marijuana Most commonly used substance after tobacco CNS depressant
crosses the placenta and can cause reduction in the heart rate of the fetus
urine the first day of life and up to 3 days after delivery in meconium

21. Marijuana and Delivery Issues
Late prenatal care (Burns, et al., 2006)
More often required NICU admission

22. Marijuana
Alters neurobehavioral performance (Carvalho do Moraes Barros, et al., 2006)
Lower gestational age at delivery
Increased risk of prematurity (Sherwood, et al., 1999)
Reduction in the heart rate of the fetus (Schaefer, Peters, and Miller, 2007).
Growth Reduction

23. Marijuana Possible post-natal symptoms Irritability Tremors
Sleep disturbances
Jitteriness

24. Marijuana Long term outcomes
increased risk of childhood leukemia and eye problems, as well as a link to developmental delays (D’Apolito, 1998).
increased risk of neuroblastoma in children when mothers use illicit or recreational drugs, particularly when marijuana is used in the first trimester of pregnancy. Bluhm, et al., (2006)
First trimester exposure to marijuana affected child’s depression and anxiety symptoms. Second trimester affected reading comprehension and underachievement. Goldschmidt, et al., 2004
Speech and thought impairments

25. Marijuana and Breastfeeding
Passes into breast milk
Half life up to 57 hours
Exposure to marijuana in breast milk has been linked to delayed motor development
Breastfeeding with marijuana use should be discouraged

26. Cocaine Most widely studied substance of abuse in pregnancy
CNS Stimulant
Causes vasoconstriction
Fetal, uterine and maternal
Resulting in infarcts and hemorrhages
Placenta appears to block some cocaine absorption
Cocaine can be present in neonatal urine for 1-2 days and meconium for up to 3 days following maternal ingestion

27. Cocaine and Delivery Issues
Placental abruption (Ananth, et al., 2006)
Premature ROM (Addis, et al., 2001)
Pre term labor
Less/late prenatal care (Fajemirokin-Odudeyi, et al., 2004)
Premature Delivery/prematurity
High risk of maternal death from intracerebral hemorrhage
Stillbirth
High risk of perinatal HIV
Higher risk of syphilis

28. Cocaine Impact on the neonate Delayed auditory brainstem response
Low birth weight (Bateman, et al., 1993)
Lower length
Lower head circumference (Bauer, et al., 2005)
IUGR
Abnormal fetal monitoring and circulatory issues
Higher heart rates (Schuetze and Eiden, (2006)
Higher incidence of hypertension (Shankaran, et al., 2006)

29. Cocaine Meconium staining Malformations Urogenital Brain
Midline deformities
Skull defects, encephaloceles
Ocular malformations
Vascular disruptions, such as limb reduction and intestinal atresia
Cardiac

30. Cocaine Neurodevelopmental Hypertonia Tremors Strokes Seizures
Brainstem conduction relays

31. Cocaine Possible Post-natal Effects
Tremors and jitters (Bauer, et al., 2005)
High pitched cry
Excessive sucking
Possible Seizures
Tachycardia
Tachypnea
Apnea
Hyperirritability (may occur as late as 30 days after birth)

32. Cocaine Long term issues Higher infection rates
Negative behavioral outcomes at 3, 5 and 7 year follow-up (Bada, et al., 2007)
Lower IQ scores
Higher risk of SIDS

33. Cocaine and Breastfeeding
Appears in breast milk within 15 minutes of absorption
Half life less than ½ hour
Clears from breast milk within 5 hours
A cocaine-using, breastfeeding mother should pump and discard breast milk for 24 hours after cocaine use. Ideally abstaining from cocaine would be the first choice. Habitual cocaine users should avoid breastfeeding

34. Methamphetamine Least studied substance of abuse CNS Stimulant
Causes vasoconstriction
Placenta
Fetal organs
more likely to have APGAR scores of <7 (Ludlow, et al., 2004).
likely to be small for gestational age (SGA).
Administration of Narcan to a methamphetamine exposed neonate could result in the seizure activity.

35. Methamphetamine and Delivery Issues
Higher incidence of stillbirth
Poor prenatal care
Sexually transmitted diseases
Placental Abruption
Postpartum hemorrhage

36. Methamphetamine Signs of exposure hyperexcitability,
disturbances in muscle tone,
Cardiac Defects “Transposition of great vessels”
Cleft Lip
Biliary Atresia

37. Methamphetamine Possible Post-natal Symptoms
Tremors and jitters (Bauer, et al., 2005)
High pitched cry
Excessive sucking
Possible Seizures
Tachycardia
Tachypnea
Apnea
Hyperirritability (may occur as late as 30 days after birth)

38. Methamphetamine Long term outcomes
Mothers have lower quality of life perceptions
Greater likelihood of substance use in family and social system
Increased risk for ongoing legal difficulties
Increased likelihood of development of a substance abuse disorder (Derauf, et al., 2007)
Potential for the following issues:
Respiratory Illnesses
Ingestion
Rashes
Burns

39. Methamphetamine and Breastfeeding
Passes into breast milk
Half life unknown
Breastfeeding with methamphetamine should be discouraged

40. Opiates
Opiates
Morphine
Heroin
Methadone
Demerol/ Meperidine
Codeine

41. Opiates More likely to require resuscitation (Ludlow, et al, 2004)
APGAR scores methadone exposed equivalent to those neonates not exposed to opiates
More feeding problems (LaGasse, et al., 2002)
Higher rates of prematurity, SGA,(Martinez, Partridge, and Taeusch, 2005)

42. Opiates and Delivery Issues
Late prenatal care (Burns, et al., 2006)
More often require NICU admission
Antepartum hemorrhage
Increased risk of HIV (if mother an intravenous heroin user)
More likely to require resuscitation (Ludlow, et al, 2004)
Higher incidence of placental abruption
Higher incidence of premature delivery, preterm labor
Higher incidence of chorioamnionitis
Higher rates of meconium staining

43. Opiates
Higher incidence of SIDS

44. Opiates and Breastfeeding
All opiates pass into breast milk
Heroin using mothers should not breast feed
Methadone appears to be well tolerated in breast milk as there appears to be minimal transfer into breast milk
Breastfed babies of methadone using mothers have less symptoms of withdrawal and the need for medication treatment
(AAP and Jansson, et al, 2008)

45. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
Lifshitz, et al., (2001) found that 96% of neonates exposed in-utero to narcotics exhibited NAS.
Symptoms appear on average at 72 hours
May not appear for a long as 4 weeks

46. Symptoms of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Central Nervous System Dysfunction
Irritability
Excessive Crying
Jitteriness
Tremulousness
Hyperactive reflexes
Increased tone
Sleep disturbance
Seizures

47. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Autonomic Dysfunction
Excessive sweating
Mottling
Hyperthermia
Hypertension
Respiratory Symptoms
Tachypnea (rapid breathing)
Nasal stuffiness

48. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Gastrointestinal and feeding disturbances
Diarrhea
Excessive Sucking
Hyperphagia (eating too much)

49. How do we determine withdrawal
Do you use an abstinence/withdrawal scoring tool on your neonates?
NO %
Yes %
Neonatal Abstinence Scale 14.3%
Finnegan %
Modified scale %
Other %
CAMC
Johns Hopkins/Bayview
Use risk assessment to determine who needs tested

50. Assessment Tools

51. What do you use to treat for withdrawal in neonates
Methadone 50%
Paregoric %
Other 50%
No protocol at this time
None
Morphine
Transport out if symptoms
Transferred to tertiary center for treatment if needed
Haven’t had an infant that physicians felt needed medication

52. Treatment Options Where are treatment facilities?
Lack of beds where mothers and babies can go together
Impact of Methadone clinics
Infant Treatment Options
Methadone
Morphine
Phenobarbital

53. Treatment Options Infant Opioids are most common treatment method
Morphine (Jackson, Ting, Mckay, Galea, and Skeoch (2004)
opioids most effective
Sarkar and Donn (2006)
Opioids - opioid and poly-substance use
Methadone – opioid use
Phenobarbital – poly-substance use

54. What Can We Do to Help? Rooming in Discharge Planning
Early Intervention
At home
Community Services
Birth to Three
Right from the Start
CSHCN
Ski*Hi

55. Do I have to call? Keeping Children and Families Safe Act
mandates the reporting by healthcare providers to child protective services any infant born and identified as being affected by illegal substance abuse and withdrawal symptoms
Call the county DHHR office or
Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline
( )  
7 days a week, 24 hours a day

56. Where can I find help?

57. Questions
Thank you!
Post test
Attitude survey
evaluations.