Children exposed to moderate levels of alcohol during pregnancy show growth deficits and intellectual and behavioral problems similar to, although less severe than, those found in children with fetal alcohol syndrome. Yet routine screening for alcohol and drug use, including moderate use, is not universal in prenatal care settings. The Alcohol Screening and Assessment in Pregancy (ASAP) project is one of four, three year projects funded by Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA)to help motivate prenatal care providers to routinely and universally screen for alcohol and drug use. ASAP, a collaboration of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Family and Community Health and the Institute for Health and Recovery, is working with four health centers and one private practice in year one and HMO's in year two. ASAP has developed a self-administered screening tool which incorporates the 5 P's and a biref intervention that was adapted for a prenatal care setting. The project will implement a statewide public media/education campaign to advertise the statewide substance abuse prevention and treatment Helpline and to help raise awareness and normalize conversation around the issue of substance use and abuse during pregnancy. Preliminary findings will be presented on the effectiveness of motivating prenatal care providers in the routine and universal use of the screening protocol.
Keywords: Prenatal Care,
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.