Methadone, a prescribed synthetic opioid substitute for the opiate heroin, is used to control addiction. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that it is effective in decreasing illegal narcotic use and preventing relapse. During pregnancy, methadone can be passed from the mother to the fetus via the placenta. According to the National Institutes of Health, drugs taken during pregnancy can lead to numerous health problems in newborns.
Low Birthweight
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, methadone treatment is a contributing factor to low birth weight. Although used to overcome heroin addiction, methadone is classified as an opioid-dependent drug. Exposure to methadone in the womb may cause retardation of fetal growth, which can affect weight, length and head circumference.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, is the sudden, unexplainable death of a child less than 6 months old. Although the occurrence of SIDS has dropped dramatically since 1992, the cause of SIDS, as of 2010, has not been determined. According to SAMHSA, opiate-exposed infants are three to four times more likely to develop SIDS than non-exposed infants.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
The National Institutes of Health describes neonatal abstinence syndrome, NAS, as a group of difficulties faced by newborns of mothers that were addicted to drugs during pregnancy. Symptoms of NAS include mottling of the skin, excessive sucking, fever, diarrhea, tremors, vomiting, rapid breathing, sleep problems and seizures. SAMHSA maintains the significant benefits of methadone therapy over heroin for women who are pregnant.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Sudden infant death syndrome
- The National Institutes of Health: Medline Plus: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
- Children's Hospital of Wisconsin: Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
- American Academy of Family Physicians: "Methadone Therapy for Opioid Dependence"
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Treatment Improvement Protocols: Risks of In Utero Methadone Exposure
