The Effect of a Methadone Treatment Program Upon Pregnant Heroin Addicts and Their Newborn Infants

Abstract

A Family and Maternity Care Program (FMCP) for pregnant addicts, their spouses and the newborn infants was organized at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center. Twenty-five percent of the women were treated for syphilis; 18% had a recurrent or recent past history of hepatitis. Obstetrical complications were reduced or eliminated by careful obstetrical surveillance. None of the mothers signed out against medical advice postpartum. Of the 51 living infants delivered within the study period, there were 17 infants weighing less than 2,500 gm. The Apgar score at one minute was 7 or higher in 84% of the infants. An excessive incidence of congenital malformation was not seen. Ninety-four percent of the infants developed withdrawal symptoms, 6% of whom convulsed repetitively. Infant withdrawal, however, was unassociated with an increase in mortality or known prolonged morbidity. This low-dose methadone program coupled with intense psychosocial support appeared to alleviate many of the common problems associated with addiction in pregnancy, but failed to prevent withdrawal in the newborn.