Writings from Daniel P.

This morning in the newborn nursery, we listened to Dr. Matory lecture on neonatal abstinence syndrome—medical jargon for a newborn going through withdrawal if Mom was using drugs during her pregnancy. Opioids lead to the worst symptoms immediately after birth, but most any drug can have negative effects, perhaps the most overlooked of which is alcohol.

While the complications of alcohol are well understood, I was struck by how little we know about Mom's use of substances like heroin may affect a child's ability to grow, learn, and socially thrive years down the road. It underscores the importance of building a system that nurtures mothers and children over the long-term—before, during, and after the actual pregnancy.

How would you nurture a family struggling with substance dependency or disorder?