2 research outputs found
Pharmacological Treatment of Polysubstance Exposed Newborns
No full textPolysubstance exposure is associated with increased severity of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in infants. The recommended treatment for pregnant women with opioid use disorder includes medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with the use of opioid agonists such as buprenorphine or methadone. Non-pharmacological interventions include environmental stimulation and feeding practices. This research aims to answer the question of whether newborn infants with prenatal polysubstance exposure are more likely to be treated pharmacologically than infants without polysubstance exposure as well as if newborn infants with prenatal polysubstance exposure have longer lengths of stay in the hospital than infants without polysubstance exposure. It is hypothesized that newborn infants with prenatal polysubstance exposure will be treated pharmacologically at a higher rate than infants without polysubstance exposure and infants with prenatal polysubstance exposure will have longer lengths of stay. My honors thesis will use data from a completed retrospective chart review. The chart review identifying 430 newborn infants with prenatal opioid exposure will be included in the proposed study. Polysubstance exposure will be defined as an infant with opioid exposure plus at least one of the following additional substances (cocaine, stimulants, methamphetamine, benzodiazepine, THC, barbiturates, hallucinogen). Infants without polysubstance exposure will be defined as infants with only prenatal opioid exposure. Tobacco will not be included in our definition polysubstance exposure because of the high prevalence rate in the sample (96.6%)
Beyond Opioids: The Role of Polysubstance Exposure in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Treatment and Hospitalization
No full textThis thesis explores the impact of prenatal polysubstance exposure, specifically focusing on the need for pharmacological treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and the duration of their hospital stay. A retrospective analysis of 462 infants, including 121 exposed to polysubstances during pregnancy, showed significant associations between polysubstance exposure and adverse neonatal outcomes. Infants with prenatal polysubstance exposure were more likely to require pharmacological treatment for NAS (52.8%) compared to non-exposed infants (38.7%), as determined by chi-square analysis (χ²(1, N = 462) = 7.36, p = .007). Additionally, infants exposed to polysubstances experienced longer hospital stays on average (M = 14.88 days, SD = 13.87) compared to non-exposed infants (M = 10.01 days, SD = 8.76), with Welch’s t-test indicating a significant mean difference of 4.87 days (95% CI: 2.20, 7.54, p \u3c .001). These results demonstrate the risks associated with prenatal polysubstance use and emphasize the need for early intervention, tailored treatment protocols, and interdisciplinary care models to address maternal mental health and substance use. This research contributes to a growing body of literature that advocates for comprehensive healthcare strategies to improve neonatal and maternal outcomes
