Neonatal abstinence syndrome [NAS] is a diagnosis that originally was restricted to infants going through withdrawal due to the effects of prenatal opioid exposure. However, over time, the term began to be applied to infants with jitteriness and irritability following prenatal exposure to other substances. A new term, Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS), recently emerged to ensure specificity in the diagnosis of infants affected by prenatal exposure to opioids. Whichever term is used, how do clinicians differentiate the effects of and infants’ dependence on opioids from infants with neurobehavioral deficits due to non-opioid exposure. This session will address that question and provide an effective approach to diagnosing NOWS in the newborn infant.

This session will explore the biological and psychosocial factors that impact the development of a nurturing relationship between a woman with a history of substance misuse during pregnancy and her child and will provide an overview of intervention strategies that can promote positive attachment.

This session will present a framework for understanding the impact of a pregnant or parenting woman’s personal history on her ability to accept health information and advice and how clinicians can avoid stigmatizing language as they address the issue of substance use in pregnancy.

SAC County Healthy Beginnings is only a beginning. As the County moves forward, this webinar will review the achievements and challenges of Healthy Beginnings’ first year and bring all the pieces of the puzzle together to lay out strategies for providing prevention and intervention services for families affected by substance use and misuse in pregnancy.

This webinar will discuss multiple myths that mislead families when they are seeking information about healthy substance-free pregnancies. Preceded by a presentation by Dr. Chasnoff, the final portion of the webinar will be an open discussion for participants to bring forward the myths and misinformation they have come across.

A history of personal or intergenerational trauma, beyond its impact on health and mental health, can impact an individual's view of the world and readiness to accept health information and advice. This session will present a framework for understanding the impact of trauma on individuals and communities, with a focus on pregnant women and their families, and discuss how a trauma-informed framework can be applied to addressing issues of substance misuse, violence, and mental health difficulties in pregnant and parenting women and their families.

The great majority of children with prenatal substance exposure (PSE) are misdiagnosed and are receiving inappropriate interventions and treatment. This session will analyze diagnostic errors in this population and discuss implications for treatment and intervention.

Substance use in pregnancy continues to be a significant factor in the morbidity and mortality associated with pregnancy and the newborn. However, the impact on the child continues over his or her lifespan. This session will examine the structural and functional changes in the developing fetal brain induced by prenatal substance exposure and demonstrate how these changes ultimately impact learning and behavior in substance-exposed children.

Substance use in pregnancy continues to be a significant factor in the morbidity and mortality associated with pregnancy and the newborn and can interfere with the development of a nurturing relationship between mother and child. Most of these complications are preventable, however, if the woman at risk for substance use is identified early and provided appropriate interventions and treatment. This program will present a validated technique for screening pregnant women for substance use, providing brief interventions in the prenatal setting, and conducting appropriate referral of women for gender-specific treatment.

Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) is a diagnosis that originally was restricted to infants going through withdrawal because of prenatal opioid exposure. However, over time, the term began to be applied to infants with jitteriness and irritability following prenatal exposure to other substances. A new term, neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS), recently emerged to ensure specificity in the diagnosis of infants affected by prenatal exposure to opioids. Whichever term is used, how do clinicians differentiate the effects of and infants’ dependence on opioids from infants with neurobehavioral deficits due to non-opioid exposure. This session will address that question and provide an effective approach to diagnosing NOWS in the newborn infant.

A history of personal or intergenerational trauma, beyond its impact on health and mental health, can impact an individual's view of the world and readiness to accept health information and advice. This session will present a framework for understanding the impact of trauma on individuals and communities and discuss how a trauma-informed framework can be applied to addressing issues of substance misuse, violence, and mental health difficulties in pregnant and parenting women and their families.

Substance use in pregnancy continues to be a significant factor in the morbidity and mortality associated with pregnancy and the newborn and can interfere with the development of a nurturing relationship between mother and child. Most of these complications are preventable, however, if the woman at risk for substance use is identified early and provided appropriate interventions and treatment. This program will present a validated technique for screening pregnant women for substance use, providing brief interventions in the prenatal setting, and conducting appropriate referral of women for gender-specific treatment.

Substance use in pregnancy continues to be a significant factor in the morbidity and mortality associated with pregnancy and the newborn and can interfere with the development of a nurturing relationship between mother and child. Most of these complications are preventable, however, if the woman at risk for substance use is identified early and provided appropriate interventions and treatment. This program will present a validated technique for screening pregnant women for substance use, providing brief interventions in the prenatal setting, and conducting appropriate referral of women for gender-specific treatment.

This program will present four basic principles of ethical prevention, especially as prevention addresses the needs of pregnant and parenting women, children, and families - therapeutic intent, do no harm, justice and respect for autonomy - and explore the role of Sacramento County citizens, community leadership, and the SACCounty Healthy Beginnings initiative in supporting a comprehensive prevention and early intervention system of care that will promote family health and well-being.