Related Experiment Videos
Trends in diagnosed drug problems among newborns: United States, 1979-1987
1National Institute on Drug Abuse, Division of Applied Research, Rockville, MD 20857.
Insights
The number of drug-affected newborns discharged from US hospitals surged by 361% between 1979 and 1987. Even adjusted for underreporting, the estimated figures were lower than many previous studies suggested.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Neonatal Care
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Significant increase in drug-affected newborns discharged from US hospitals between 1979 and 1987.
- Rate per 10,000 newborns increased by 339%, with most of the rise occurring after 1983.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the number of drug-affected newborns discharged from US hospitals.
- To compare these estimates with existing literature and discuss discrepancies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of discharge data from 6000 non-federal, short-stay hospitals in the US.
- Application of multiplicative correction factors to adjust for potential underreporting.
Main Results:
- An estimated 13,000 drug-affected newborns were discharged in 1987 (unadjusted).
- Adjusted estimates, accounting for underreporting, reached approximately 38,000 newborns.
- Both adjusted and unadjusted estimates were lower than many previously reported figures.
Conclusions:
- The study provides updated estimates on the incidence of drug-affected newborns.
- Discrepancies with prior literature warrant further investigation into reporting methodologies and potential contributing factors.
Abstract:
Between 1979 and 1987, there was an estimated 361% increase in the number of drug-affected newborns discharged from the 6000 non-federal, short-stay hospitals in the United States. Per 10,000 newborns, the rate increased 339%, mostly occurring after 1983. The estimated number of drug affected newborns in 1987 was about 13,000 (95% confidence interval: 10,000-15,000). Recognizing that underreporting could have occurred, multiplicative correction factors derived from the literature were employed to produce 'adjusted' estimates. While somewhat arbitrary, the number of drug-affected newborns, adjusted for underreporting, was about 38,000 (95% confidence interval: 30,000-45,000). Both adjusted and unadjusted estimates of the numbers of newborns identified as drug-affected by the present study is much smaller than most of the estimates reported in the literature. Possible reasons for this finding are discussed.