Analysis of the increase in narcotics prescriptions for pregnant women by Abimbola Ademola-DadaThesisAlthough mothers may need opioids due to pain they feel, opioids should be used on a limited basis in pregnant patients if a Pregnancy risk category is not assigned to opioids. Summarize it. The increase in opioid prescribing to pregnant women by doctors is at an unprecedented increase. Of 1.1 million pregnant women in the Medicaid program, nearly 23% filled an opioid prescription in 2007, an increase from 2000 (18.5%). Opioids that were prescribed in the past and those that are currently prescribed the most include codeine and hydrocodone. The most prescribed medication was given for a week or less (only 2% took opioids for a longer period). The opioid prescription rate was lower in the Northeast and higher in the South. The increase in opioid prescribing poses a problem because fewer than 10% of drugs approved since 1980 have sufficient data to determine the fetal category of the drug. Health care providers and people researching opioid use have shown increased concern about the use of opioid prescribing in the first trimester and the role it may play in abnormalities of the neural tube. Research shows that mothers of children with neural tube defects took opioids earlier in pregnancy than mothers of children without birth defects. Researchers found that a pregnant woman's use of opioids early in her trimester doubled the risk of neural tube defects. Some effects may not be as noticeable on the child after birth, but are recognized after a few days. Neonatal abstinence syndrome (infant dependence on opioids) can occur 2 to 7 days after delivery. The CDC launched a program called "Treatment for Two Initiations" middle of article......ww.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/features/birthdefects-Opioid-Analgesics-keyfindings.htmlChoosing Treatment for Pregnant Women dependent on opioids. [home page on the Internet]. 2012 [cited April 17, 2014]. Available at: http://www.drugfree.org/join-together/addiction/choosing-treatment-for-pregnant-women-addicted-to-opioidsIdentifying Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and Treatment Guidelines Hospital. [home page on the Internet]. 2013 [cited April 17, 2014]. Available at: University of Iowa Children's Hospital, website: http://www.uichildrens.org/uploadedFiles/UIChildrens/Health_Professionals/Iowa_Neonatology_Handbook/Pharmacology/Neonatal%20Abstinence%20Syndrome%20Treatment%20Guidelines%20Feb2013% 20revision.pdfChou R, Fanciullo G, et al'. Clinical guidelines for the use of chronic opioid therapy in the treatment of chronic noncancer pain. The pain diary 2009; 10(2):113-130.