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Every Mother, Every Baby Deserves a Great Start

Since 2004, the number of newborns treated for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)—and born dependent on prescription opioids—has increased nearly fourfold. At the same time, women are more likely than men to be prescribed opioid pain medicines, to use them long-term, and to be given higher doses. Your understanding of the safe treatment of chronic pain, including for millions of women of childbearing age, can make a difference.
What you can do to curb the NAS epidemic

• Join the live TelePain session on June 3 with Dr. Alyssa Stephenson-Famy of the University of Washington as she discusses pain in pregnancy with clinicians around the country.
• Take the free COPE REMS CME and learn how to safely treat patients dealing with chronic pain, including women of childbearing age.

Notes:
1. (NAS…increased nearly fourfold) Veeral TN, Patrick SW, Bennett MM, Murthy K, Sousa JP, Smith B, Clark RH, Spitzer AR. Increasing Incidence of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in U.S. Neonatal ICUs. New England Journal of Medicine. April 26, 2015. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa1500439
2. (Women are more likely than men…) Vital Signs: Overdoses of Prescription Opioid Pain Relievers and Other Drugs Among Women — United States, 1999–2010. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. July 5, 2013/ 62(26);537-542. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6226a3.htm