“Greater use of prescribed opioids among women during pregnancy has probably contributed to the rise in neonatal abstinence” syndrome, says an editorial in The BMJ.
In the US, it is estimated that 14-22% of pregnant women receive an opioid prescription while pregnant. The increase has been linked with a parallel rise in misuse, fatal overdoses and heroin use.
From 2000-2009, the incidence of NAS in the US increased from 1.20 to 3.39 per 1,000 live births, and from 2004-2013, the percentage of days spent in intensive care because of NAS rose from 0.6% to 4.0%.
Read more at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/304953.php
See related article: Steep Rise in Prescription Opioid Use in Pregnancy, Infants Pay the Price available at: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/857172
Source: MedicalNewsToday.com – January 13, 2016
