The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends better support for drug-addicted mothers, in order to accompany them in their addiction and to find the best solution to get them out of this trap.
-1603752451.jpg "Opioid crisis: supporting dependent pregnant women, the new recommendation from the Academy of Pediatrics")
- The academy would like to facilitate the prescription of opioids for pregnant women in order to better control the use of these products
- In the event of taking opioids by the mother, the academy also wishes to set up an evaluation of the babies, some of whom would present symptoms of withdrawal
In the United States, the use and consumption of opioids is a serious health problem. Originally used to dull pain, opioids have been diverted from their original purpose and are commonly used as drugs. The opioid crisis in the United States is reaching crazy proportions, with nearly 650,000 opioid prescriptions made per day in 2017. However, if these substances are harmful for the people who take them, they could help pregnant women on drugs. This is what the American Academy of Pediatrics proposes, which gave its opinion in the October edition of the magazine Pediatrics.
Avoid dependence on the fetus
The academy of pediatrics wants to give access to opioids to pregnant women, so that they can avoid opioid abuse. The idea behind this counter-intuitive proposition would be that they take care of their offspring by taking only the dose they need. If they are properly “supplied”, they will be less at risk of taking too high doses which will lead them to an overdose. In addition, they will be less prone to stress related to lack, which can have negative repercussions on the fetus. Buprenorphine and methadone could thus be effective treatments for pregnant women.
The academy says hospitals should have protocols in place to assess and treat newborns who might be affected by opioids. Likewise, breastfeeding and other practices that promote the emotional bonds between mother and child should be encouraged.
Control the consumption of opioids to avoid misuse
According to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US equivalent of our regional health agencies, 7% of US women reported using prescription opioids during pregnancy in 2019, and one in five would have misused it.
Thus, some newborns would present symptoms of opioid withdrawal, such as tremors, diarrhea and restless behavior. According to CDC estimates, nearly 80 infants are diagnosed each day, a figure that has tripled in recent years.
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