Studies show that substance abuse legal or illegal during pregnancy has a direct impact on the fetus. Taking drugs during pregnancy also increases the chance of birth defects, premature babies, and stillborn births. Newborns diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) are more likely to have low birth weight, difficulty breathing, and even seizures.
Combining urine drug testing (UDT) with other universal screening tools can help clinicians proactively assess medication use, misuse and addiction that can result in harm for the mother and developing fetus. UDT results offer an opportunity for patient assessment and education regarding the health risk that drug abuse has on mother and baby.
- Identify possible illicit drug or medication abuse, misuse or diversion
- Reveal a patient’s use of multiple substances, both legal (Prescribed and OTC medications) and illicit drugs
- Identify medication or illicit drug use not disclosed during the practitioner-patient interview
- Support healthy outcomes for pregnant women and their babies
- Monitor and support decisions about medication therapy, particularly controlled substances
- Detect medications that may result in a drug-drug interaction
- Communicate with patients about individual treatment plans