Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Maternal Substance Use in Wisconsin, 2009-2014

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Neonatal Care
• Substance Use Disorders

Background:

• Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) rates are rising, primarily due to maternal opioid use.
• This trend poses a significant challenge to clinical and public health sectors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the burden of NAS and maternal substance use in Wisconsin from 2009 to 2014.
• To identify demographic disparities and clinical outcomes associated with NAS and maternal opioid use.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Wisconsin's Hospital Discharge Data to track NAS and maternal substance use diagnoses.
• Compared demographic, payer, utilization, and outcome data for newborns with and without NAS.
• Examined characteristics of women with and without identified substance use at delivery.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in NAS and maternal opioid use diagnoses were observed between 2009 and 2014.
• Non-Hispanic white, Medicaid-insured populations and American Indian/Alaska Native groups showed disproportionately high rates.
• Newborns with NAS experienced higher rates of adverse outcomes and healthcare utilization.

Conclusions:

• Wisconsin mirrors national trends of increasing maternal opioid use and NAS rates.
• Disparities highlight the need for targeted public health interventions for prevention and burden reduction.