Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Defined
Primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry...
Complex, chronic, relapsing
Addiction is a disease of the brain
Non-discriminatory
SUD affects all socioeconomic, gender, race & ethnic groups
Craving & compulsivity
Continued use despite harmful consequences
Impaired executive function
Perception, learning, impulse control & judgment are altered
SUD is characterized by
- Genetic predisposition
- Significant self-deception
- History of trauma
- Co-occurring psychiatric illness
Did you know?
Opioid addiction can alter one's life-sustaining activities
Opioid misuse affects the dopamine reward system located in the brain’s limbic system and can impair one’s interest in eating, sleeping, moving and sex — all requirements for sustaining life.
Opioids can also alter emotion, cognition, motivation, judgment, decision-making and one’s response to pain and pleasure.
Pregnancy & SUD
Pregnancy is a motivator for change, and with support, it can be a pivotal point to seek treatment for substance use disorder.
1 in 4 pregnant women
have filled a prescription for opiates
1 in 20 women
are pregnant at entry into treatment
1 in 20 pregnant women
report current marijuana use
3 in 5 substance affected
pregnancies are paid for by Medicaid
Pregnant Women
with SUD have a high rate of depression, anxiety and bipolar disease.
Women with SUD
have less joy, energy and exhibit altered parenting due to decreased dopamine and oxytocin.
Did you know?
SUD adds many challenges in pregnancy
- Housing insecurity
- Unemployment
- Poor nutrition
- Poverty
- Transportation barriers
- Inadequate child care
- Limited support system
- CPS & custody issues
- Undiagnosed/untreated mental illness
- Limited addiction treatment options
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
NAS is one of the most pressing medical and social problems faced today.
6.3% of opioid exposed infants
have an IQ 2 standard deviations below normal
17% of opioid exposed infants
are born prematurely
60% of opioid exposed infants
require withdrawal treatment leading to additional opioid exposure
78% of infants with NAS in the U.S.
are covered by Medicaid
Average treatment cost
$93,400 per infant with neonatal withdrawal
Aggregate cost of care
More than $2.5 billion for infants with neonatal withdrawal
Did you know?
Newborns are NOT addicts; they are NOT addicted
When infants are exposed to opioids in utero they can develop a dependency on the opioid. After birth, when exposure stops, they are at risk of going through a self-limited withdrawal which can be treated with comfort measures and, as needed, opiate medication.
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