The opioid addiction crisis in Massachusetts has led to a sharp increase in the number of children being born with drug dependence. Hundreds of health care professionals and social service providers attended a conference in Holyoke today to share ideas on caring for pregnant patients who are using drugs.
The number of babies that underwent drug withdrawal after they were born at Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield nearly tripled over the last two years, according to Dr. Rachana Singh, a neonatal specialist and the hospital’s research director.
" We had fewer than 50 babies to treat in 2012 and last year it was over 110, which is quite an exponential rise," said Singh.
New research finds a quarter of babies born to drug dependent mothers will require therapy by the time they are 2 years old.
Faced with the sharp rise in the number of children born to mothers using opioids, Singh helped to organize Wednesday’s conference whose audience members included obstetricians, pediatricians, nurses, midwives, and social workers.
" It is critical. There is no question we have to have all the people who are helping the families be in the same room," said Singh.
Since former Governor Deval Patrick declared the opioid addiction crisis a public health emergency more than a year ago, the state has increased funding to provide more treatment beds and counseling.
" They are trying to keep up with it, but it is a growing problem and we have finite resources, so we have to focus on using the resources more efficiently, " said Singh.
There are dozens of state licensed substance abuse treatment and prevention services in western Massachusetts, but participants at Wednesday’s conference said there is a lack of coordination that hampers the effective delivery of help.
Pregnant women have priority in Massachusetts for entry into drug treatment programs, according to Jordana Willers of the Institute for Health and Recovery, which operates a statewide helpline ( 800-327-5050)
" With the opioid crisis the numbers are increasing and programs are full so there is unfortunately often a waiting list," said Willers.
Erica Asselin was addicted to drugs when she was pregnant with her son six years ago. She advocated for more peer counseling services.
" The important thing is if we can reach moms when they are pregnant and actively using (drugs) we can teach them what they are going to be up against when they give birth to this baby," said Asselin. " Heroin use is an epidemic right now . The more we can support these moms and get them the help they need the better off these babies will be."
Gov. Charlie Baker has targeted the opioid crisis as a priority for his administration. A task force he appointed is holding hearings around the state. The panel will be at Greenfield Community College on March 19
