PREGNANCY AND ADDICTION - A COMPREHENSIVE CARE MODEL

The The problem of substance abuse in pregnancy is a major public heal th dilemma. Effective comprehensive care of drug addicted women has be en shown to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. The Center for Add iction and Pregnancy (CAP) combines the disciplines of pediatrics, sub stance abuse treatment, obstetrics/gynecology, and family planning in an effort to reduce the barriers to care often presenting in this subp opulation. For the first 100 CAP births, 82% were delivered vaginally, with a mean gestational age of 38 weeks. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit admission rate was 10%, and the Bayley Scales of Infant Developme nt performed at 6 and 12 months revealed mean developmental indices wi thin the normal range. In a comparison study, a group of CAP participa nts had nearly $5,000 savings in costs when compared to a matched coho rt. The CAP model of care appears to be an effective mode of treatment for substance abusing pregnant women. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Sci ence Inc.