Pilot Project, Year 1

Characterization of populations linked to Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Infants with NAS and their mothers

Opioid utilization during pregnancy can result in newborn infants experiencing drug withdrawal symptoms, called Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), within 24-48 hours of birth. In 2012, hospital costs associated with NAS births were approximately $1.5 billion, and 81 percent of these charges were paid by Medicaid.

We estimate that the current NAS incidence in Arizona is 10 per 1,000 births, which is quite high, considering that the nationwide incidence in 2013 was 6 per 1,000 births. Despite this worrisome statistic, little is known about the population characteristics of these infants and their mothers, which is partially due to lack of reporting.

However, Governor Ducey released the Declaration of Emergency and Notification of Enhanced Surveillance Advisory—Opioid Overdose Epidemic, and NAS reporting is now required, across the state, within 24 hours of an event.

The researchers used these new data to accomplish the overarching goal of better understanding which groups of infants disproportionately experience NAS, during the reporting time frame of June 15, 2017- June 15, 2018.

To achieve this goal, they carried out the following aims:

• Characterized the population of infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome
• Characterized the population of mothers who used opioids while pregnant
• Described differences in the populations of infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome from exposure to different opioids.

Given the dearth of information on this topic, we anticipate the proposed research will pave the way for local interventions while having national, and even global, implications.

Funding: The study is funded by NIMHD/NIH U54MD012388

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