The United States is in the middle of an unprecedented, historic drug crisis. Drug overdose deaths in the United States increased from 70,000 in 2019 to over 112,000 last year, a mind-numbing increase of 60% in four years. While the Vietnam War cost our nation about 58,000 lives over the course of 10 years, the current drug crisis takes approximately that many lives every six months. The magnitude of this calamity now exceeds every previous drug epidemic, from crack cocaine in the 1980s to the prescription opioid crisis of the 2000s.

The Northwest region of the United States has been especially hard hit. In Washington and Oregon, drug overdose deaths for the rolling 12-month period ending in September increased by 38% and 32%, respectively, over the prior 12-month period. No other state comes close to the increase in these two states over the past few years. In the Inland Northwest, fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Spokane County increased by 425% from 2020 to 2022.

The drug epidemic has had a profound effect on all communities, yet some data indicates that women and girls have faced the most substantial harm. Drug overdose deaths among 10- to 44-year-old girls and women who were pregnant (or who were pregnant within the previous 12 months) more than doubled between 2018 and 2021.

As a result of the dramatic increase in substance use disorder among pregnant women, the number of infants diagnosed with opioid withdrawal symptoms increased by 514% between 2004 and 2014. These statistics don’t reflect the worsening of the drug crisis since 2014 due to the pandemic and the rise of fentanyl. Infants who are born dependent on substances because of prenatal exposure in utero suffer what’s called neonatal abstinence syndrome.

While the prevalence of NAS is believed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institute of Health, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the National Institute on Drug Abuse to be increasing, corresponding to the increase in the use of opioids and nonopioids by adult women of child-bearing age, the number of NAS births by state and by Indian Tribe, is not well understood or known.

Last year, Rep. Marcus Riccelli and Sen. Andy Billig shepherded a bill through the Washington Legislature that created a $5.5 million Pilot Project on Maddie’s Place in Spokane. Maddie’s Place provides medical care and support for drug dependent infants and their mothers, dads and families. Maddie’s Place is one of four pediatric transitional care facilities in the country. As part of the pilot project, WSU Health Sciences is conducting a study of the prevalence of NAS in Spokane County and the treatment methodology at Maddie’s Place. Recommendations from the WSU study are to be made to the state Legislature in December.

While the Maddie’s Place Pilot Project is of critical importance to infants born drug dependent in Spokane County and Washington state, what is really needed is a national study by NIH of the prevalence of NAS and the benefits of pediatric transitional care facilities. Let’s hope Congress will soon have an opportunity to pass legislation which directs NIH to conduct such a study.

Addressing the national drug epidemic on all levels is imperative to safeguard public health, preserve individual well-being, and prevent the erosion of local communities. The continuum of care for drug dependency must include treatment for substance use disorder among pregnant women and many of their infants who are born drug dependent.