StemCell Therapy

Dr. Denise Johnson| Your Turn

Narcan carried by Erie Police to save lives

Erie Bureau of Police Lt. Anthony Talarico shows a portable naloxone kit, Nov. 7, 2016, at the police station in Erie. Naloxone is a medicine that reverses the effects of opioid overdoses, like those caused by heroin

Christopher Millette, Erie Times-News

Bringinghomea new baby is an exciting time for families, but it is also a significant life-changing experience that can cause stress for parents, caregivers and children. While all families benefit from support during the newborn stage, it is particularly important when the newborn has a health condition like Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, or NAS.

NAS is a group of symptoms experienced by newborns who have been exposed to medications or substances during pregnancy. With symptoms ranging from excessive crying and crankiness to vomiting and trouble sleeping, managing the symptoms of this syndrome can be challenging for families. NAS can also impact an infant's development, so it is important for families to be connected to treatment and supportive services as soon as possible. This can be a difficult time when families deserve our compassion as well as the best support we can give.

More:Treat opioid use disorder and reduce maternal deaths by extending Medicaid postpartum

The treatment for babies born with this condition depends on the type and severity of symptoms that they are experiencing. Not all babies require lengthy hospital stays or medicines to help with NAS. A new parent can use The Eat, Sleep, Console (ESC) method, which focuses on the infant's ability to maintain the basic functions of eating, sleeping and consoling to help with symptoms of withdrawal. This approach emphasizes the relationship between mother and baby.And studies suggest it can decrease hospital stays and the need for medicine.

In the most recent report published by the Department of Health, there were 1,608 NAS cases reported by Pennsylvania hospitals and birthing facilities in 2019. The overall incidence rate across the state was 11.9 cases per 1,000 live births, a significant increase over the past two decades, and one public health officials are working to address.

More:Opioid crisis spurs Erie hospitals to help addicted pregnant women

The Wolf Administration remains committed to the fight against substance use and its impact on our fellow Pennsylvanians, especially our youngest residents. The department, in partnership with the Northwestern Pennsylvania NAS Coalition and Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative, developed a comprehensivetoolkitto walk families through their questions about NAS and let them know about the programs and services available to provide support to their infant and family.

Connecting families to health care and support is an important part of providing the necessary treatment to infants born with NAS. In addition to health care services that can be provided at birth, babies born with this health concern may be eligible for other special services. One example of a service that is available for diagnosed babies in Pennsylvania isEarly Intervention At-Risk Tracking, to help keep an eye out for any developmental delays.

In addition to connecting families to services, the Wolf Administration is working to better understand NAS in Pennsylvania. Hospitals and birthing facilities are required to report up to 28 days after birth all confirmed and probable cases in newborns who are showing symptoms of withdrawal due to prenatal exposure to opioids and other drugs whether via prescription, medical therapy or illegal use. By gathering this information, we can better understand the burden on families in Pennsylvania, identify high incidence areas to target interventions and reduce statewide incidence rates of NAS.

As we continue to fight substance use disorder across the commonwealth, we must remain steadfast in our efforts to provide needed services to infants born with NAS and their families. We must also take steps to prevent NAS by connecting individuals to treatment and reducing barriers to substance use treatment for all Pennsylvanians.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, help is available. If you need assistance finding a treatment provider or funding for treatment, please call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or contact yourlocal county drug and alcohol office. Additionally, the department is available to provide information to all families in Pennsylvania. For information and referrals related to the care of infants, please call our Healthy Baby Line at 1-800-986-BABY (2229).

Dr. Denise Johnson is the acting Pennsylvania Health Secretary and Pennsylvania Physician General.

Read more from the original source:

Babies born exposed to opioids and drugs need our support - GoErie.com

This entry was posted on August 3, 2022 at 1:54 am and is filed under Eye Medical Therapy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |