142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

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Neonatal abstinence syndrome: How states can advance the knowledge base for primary prevention and best practices of care

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 10:50 AM - 11:10 AM

Leslie Erdelack, MPH, CPH , Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Arlington, VA

Issues: There has been increasing public health, medical, and political attention on the parallel increase in two trends: prescription opioid abuse and the incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Although much is known about how to manage opioid dependency in pregnancy and NAS, many research and operational questions remain regarding how to consistently provide good quality of care in an unbiased and compassionate manner.

Description: Neonatal abstinence syndrome has been consistently identified as an emerging priority for health departments. This session will present findings from a literature review and discuss ways in which state health agencies may support better outcomes for mothers and infants affected by opioid dependency.

Lessons Learned: A state-level approach to NAS can address several levels of intervention, including: surveillance for NAS-affected infants and the sources of maternal opiate use; reimbursement for utilizing screening protocols to detect substance abuse early in pregnancy and withdrawal signs in newborns; developing better measures to ensure follow-up of opioid-dependent women and receipt of comprehensive services; collaborative efforts to strengthen clinical standards for identification, management, and follow-up of NAS-affected infants and their families.

Recommendations: Because the points of potential intervention span multiple phases in women and children’s lives, many state agencies, healthcare providers, and community-based services are involved. State health agencies play a key role in linking various resources and providers by tracking substance-exposed infants through screening, assessment, and service delivery.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
List at least five examples of actions state health agencies can take to support better outcomes for mothers and infants affected by opioid dependency. Describe how a state-level approach to neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) can address several levels of intervention, including surveillance for NAS-affected infants and sources of maternal opiate use. Discuss how states are taking steps to address the gaps in knowledge regarding neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) through interdepartmental efforts, perinatal learning collaboratives, and quality improvement initiatives.

Keyword(s): Maternal and Child Health, Prescription Drug Abuse and Misuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a senior public health analyst employed by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association that tracks, evaluates, and advises members on the impact and formation of policy pertaining to health that may affect state or territorial health agencies’ administration and provides guidance and technical assistance to its members on improving the nation’s health. I have served as a lead content expert on this topic for three years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.