RICHMOND — Three of every ten mothers who gave birth at Reid Health last year tested positive for an illicit or high-risk drug, according to the hospital.

Midway through 2015, Reid began drug screens on all women delivering at the hospital after a growing trend of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome, which involves the newborns experiencing withdrawal from drug addiction.

Lisa Suttle, director of the psychiatric service line for Reid, presented the 2016 numbers during last week’s Heroin Is Here meeting. She said not all of the babies born to mothers testing positive to a drug would suffer through withdrawal.

Last year, 684 women gave birth at Reid, with 211 (30.85 percent) testing positive for one of seven types of drugs.

Fifty-eight of the positive tests were for opiates, such as heroin. That’s one of about every 12 births at the hospital, but it’s an improvement from the beginning of the year. Through July, 41 of 382 births — or one of every nine — tested positive for opiates.

In 2015, 54 of 702 babies tested positive for opiates, a 1-in-13 ratio. Previous years saw ratios of 1 in 21 in 2014 (31 in 656 births), 1 in 59 in 2013 (11 of 653), 1 in 45 in 2012 (15 of 676) and 1 in 176 in 2011 (four of 704). In 2010, there was one addicted baby born in 707 total births.

Positive opiate tests in mothers last year were far surpassed by positive results on screenings for cannabis (marijuana). Mothers tested positive for that drug 104 times for a ratio of 1 in 7 (15.20 percent).

Screens returned positive for benzodiazipines, such as Xanax or Valium, 18 times for a 1-in-38 ratio (2.63 percent).

Positive cocaine results returned 13 times for a 1-in-53 ratio (1.90 percent). The total of 71 mothers testing positive for opiates or cocaine reflects more than 10 percent of the total births.

Ten mothers’ screens returned positive for barbituates for a 1-in-68 ration (1.46 percent), and seven screens returned positive for amphetamines for a 1-in-98 ration (1.02 percent). In addition, one screen tested positive for ecstasy.

Reid has planned a cooperative effort to help addicted moms and babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome, who must be reported to the state Department of Child Services.

Pregnant women addicted to a drug are discouraged from undergoing withdrawal during pregnancy because of the trauma experienced by the baby, so if a pregnant woman is found to be addicted, Reid would work with the Richmond Comprehensive Treatment Center to manage the addiction during pregnancy.

After birth, the mother would utilize the Bridge system, which alleviates withdrawal pain, to withdraw at the same time as her baby. Once clean, the mother would receive Vivitrol treatment and be referred to addiction counseling.

The mother then would keep the baby as long as she progresses in treatment.

Reid also has begun a monthly Birth Control Education and Methods program at the Richmond Comprehensive Treatment Center to help women who are battling addiction to avoid becoming pregnant. The service includes the Depo-Provera injection for birth control, which lasts for three months.

Source: The Palladium-Item