The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently funding six states’ efforts to collect better data on maternal substance abuse via its Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) initiative.

Through an improved population health research approach, wrote the director of the CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health (DRH), neonatologist Dr. Wanda Barfield, the agency hopes to develop a better understanding of the factors contributing to the increase in the number of newborns who suffer from post-delivery drug withdrawal, or neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).

NAS is extremely distressing for newborns to experience, causing them to cry constantly and inconsolably, and to exhibit disturbed sleep patterns, vomiting, diarrhea and tremors.

Drug withdrawal can put infants at a higher risk of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), of developing cognitive or physical impairments, or suffering from learning disabilities and behavioral issues later in life.

“Behind every baby born with withdrawal symptoms, there is a mother who needs ongoing support,” wrote Barfield. “I have always felt that, while my specialty is treating newborns, I am caring for an entire family. This is especially true when it comes to treating NAS.”

Read her full op-ed about the project here, in Health Affairs.