planning activities unless otherwise recommended by a substance use disorder treatment professional. Abrupt discontinuation of opioid use during pregnancy can result in premature labor, fetal distress and miscarriage. Additionally, pregnant women who stop using opioids and subsequently relapse are at a greater risk of overdose and death. There is also increased risk of harm to the fetus. Because Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) – the common term used to represent the symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal in newborns is treatable, MAT is typically recommended by treatment providers over – abstinence or withdrawal. In an effort to counter misinformation about prescription opioid use the International Drug Policy Consortium issued the following statement in 2013: are NOT born and referring to newborns with NAS as “Newborn babies ‘addicted’ is inaccurate, incorrect, and highly stigmatizing. Portraying NAS babies as ‘addicted’ in the vilification of their mothers, who are then viewed as ‘victims’ results perpetrators, and further perpetuates the criminalization of addiction. Using at substantial risk of stigma and pejorative labels…places these children discrimination and can lead to inappropriate child welfare interventions. NAS is treatable and has not been associated with long-term adverse consequences. Mischaracterizing MAT as harmful and unethical contradicts the efficacy of MAT and discourages the appropriate and federally recommended treatment for opioid use disorders.” County Child Response to Substance Affected Infants Welfare Agency’s Screening and Intake of the Notification The notification of the birth and identification of a affected “substance infant” does not in itself meet the statutory criteria for child abuse, neglect, and/or dependency. It is the effect that the substance use has had on the infant and the safety that guides decision making rather than the prenatal use of the infant’s substance alone. Agency intervention without such justification is inappropriate. The county welfare child agency must refer to the Substance Affected Infant Screening Tool in to screen for allegations of child maltreatment. Reports of child maltreatment involving substance affected infants must be accepted and a CPS Assessment initiated when the information gathered is consistent with any of the following: The infant has received one of the following diagnoses: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Partial FAS (PFAS), Neurobehavioral Disorder associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (NDPAE),
planning activities unless otherwise recommended by a substance use disorder treatment professional. Abrupt discontinuation of opioid use during pregnancy can result in premature labor, fetal distress and miscarriage. Additionally, pregnant women who stop using opioids and subsequently relapse are at a greater risk of overdose and death. There is also increased risk of harm to the fetus. Because Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) – the common term used to represent the symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal in newborns – is treatable, MAT is typically recommended by treatment providers over abstinence or withdrawal. In an effort to counter misinformation about prescription opioid use the International Drug Policy Consortium issued the following statement in 2013: “Newborn babies are NOT born ‘addicted’ and referring to newborns with NAS as ‘addicted’ is inaccurate, incorrect, and highly stigmatizing. Portraying NAS babies as ‘victims’ results in the vilification of their mothers, who are then viewed as perpetrators, and further perpetuates the criminalization of addiction. Using pejorative labels…places these children at substantial risk of stigma and discrimination and can lead to inappropriate child welfare interventions. NAS is treatable and has not been associated with long-term adverse consequences. Mischaracterizing MAT as harmful and unethical contradicts the efficacy of MAT and discourages the appropriate and federally recommended treatment for opioid use disorders.” County Child Welfare Agency’s Response to Substance Affected Infants Screening and Intake of the Notification The notification of the birth and identification of a “substance affected infant” does not in itself meet the statutory criteria for child abuse, neglect, and/or dependency. It is the effect that the substance use has had on the infant and the infant’s safety that guides decision making rather than the prenatal use of the substance alone. Agency intervention without such justification is inappropriate. The county welfare child agency must refer to the Substance Affected Infant Screening Tool in to screen for allegations of child maltreatment. Reports of child maltreatment involving substance affected infants must be accepted and a CPS Assessment initiated when the information gathered is consistent with any of the following: The infant has received one of the following diagnoses: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Partial FAS (PFAS), Neurobehavioral Disorder associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (NDPAE),
FINAL-DRAFT-1439-Substance-Affected-Infant.docx