Health Care Substance Abuse

Prenatal Screening
What?
Prenatal screening is used to determine the amount of alcohol and/or drugs used by women during their pregnancy. The purpose of screening pregnant women for alcohol use is to give doctors an opportunity to educate women about the risks of drinking during pregnancy, provide intervention, and refer alcohol-dependent women to treatment. The overall goal of screening is to prevent pregnant women from drinking and reduce or eliminate the possibility of babies being affected by prenatal alcohol/drug exposure and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

Who?
It is the position of MOFAS and The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology that all pregnant women should undergo screening for alcohol consumption; not just women who are at risk for drinking or abusing other substances. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism also agrees that brief interventions are especially effective in prenatal care settings.

How?
Screening usually consists of the doctor interviewing a woman about her drinking habits. Screening can also involve women self-reporting and doctors observations. If a woman shows risk factors for drinking while pregnant, she is often re-screened throughout her pregnancy. Screening does not typically involve blood or urine testing. The MOFAS screening tool meets the criteria of the Minnesota Department of Health for effective screening tools in the prenatal setting, which are those that: Can be administered in 5-10 minutes Are used routinely with every patient Can be adapted to fit a providers personal history-taking style Can be administered multiple times during a pregnancy, since patients may be more forthcoming as they develop trust with a provider Provide an opportunity to educate about alcohol and drug abuse and the benefits of stopping while pregnant

I was surprised when I suspected I was pregnant because I had been struggling with infertility for 3 1/2 years. I was 10 weeks along before I took a pregnancy test. At my first prenatal visit, the nurse practitioner asked me about my diet, medications I was taking, and about my alcohol and drug use. I told her I had been going to the bar or parties most weekends and having a few drinks. She advised me that I shouldn't use anymore alcohol during my pregnancy. I agreed to stop...a healthy baby was my top priority. -Marie, parent

Where?
Visit the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology website. Refer to the Screening for Substance Abuse During Pregnancy manual. Visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website. Visit the SAMHSA website.