In 1994, the U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) initiated two treatment demonstration programs, the Residential Women and Children and the Pregnant and Postpartum Women Programs (RWC/PPW). These programs support 50 projects offering comprehensive, long-term (6- to 12-month) residential treatment for pregnant and parenting women with substance abuse problems, together with their infants and young children. In the case of pregnant substance abusers, major program objectives were to reduce infant mortality and morbidity, as well as to improve clients' capabilities to provide responsible care for their infants, once delivered. This paper presents findings obtained in a longitudinal cross-site study of over 500 former RWC/PPW clients who were pregnant when they entered treatment. The principal questions to be addressed are whether, in what ways, and to what extent treatment measurably reduced infant mortality and morbidity, as compared to the mortality/morbidity levels seen: (a) in the general population; (b) among untreated substance abusing women studied in previous research; and (c) in clients' previous pregnancies. The paper will also report findings concerning clients' substance abuse and parenting status 6-8 months following discharge from treatment. Our expectation, based on preliminary explorations of these issues, is that the paper will document unexpectedly strong positive impacts of the program on both maternal and child health.
Learning Objectives: Participants in this session will obtain information about the latest substance abuse treatment research (specifically, on infant mortality) funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Keywords: Infant Mortality, Birth Outcomes
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.