Between 2004 and 2011, opioid abuse and dependence among delivering mothers in Ohio grew by 491%. As a consequence, cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), where opioid exposed babies experience acute drug withdrawal following birth, became commonplace.

Babies who begin their lives suffering from NAS experience slower than normal development, and can suffer adverse effects from it for years.

The Maternal Opiate Medical Supports Plus project (MOMS Plus) was developed to improve care and outcomes for mothers and their unborn babies through wrap-around services, care coordinators, and tailored counseling.

The MOMS Plus program, launched in 2017, has already helped over 1,000 mothers get help for SUD and lowered the risk of opioid withdrawal following birth for their babies.

Today, Dr. Michael Marcotte and Jennifer Terry from Cincinnati Children's Hospital join Greg to share the highlights of the program.