A recent study by Florida Atlantic University’s Schm revealed that the number of infant deaths involving drugs more than doubled from 2018 to 2022, representing a 120% increase. The highest proportion of these deaths occurred in 2021, accounting for 25.8% of the total. The leading underlying causes of death were attributed to drug-related assault (homicide) using drugs, medicaments, and biological substances, accounting for 35.6% of cases. Non-Hispanic white mothers accounted for 60.4% of the infants who died from drug-related causes, while non-Hispanic Black mothers accounted for 28.5%. Additionally, drug-induced mortality was found to be 56.5% in male infants and 43.7% in female infants, with a statistically significant difference.
idt College of Medicine has found a troubling pattern in drug-related deaths of infants in the United States between 2018 and 2022.
Infant deaths are defined as those that happen between the time of birth and the age of 1. Drug-involved deaths are instances where drugs are either the main cause or a contributing factor to the death, and can occur due to maternal drug use, accidental intake of specific prescriptions, illicit drug use, and other incidents where drugs are connected to the death.
The study’s findings, which were published in the Journal of Perinatal Medicine, indicate that in the U.S. from 20From 2018 to 2022, the number of infant deaths involving drugs more than doubled, increasing by 120% from 10.8% to 24.4%. The biggest increase occurred between 2019 and 2022, with the highest proportion of drug-related infant deaths happening in 2021 at 25.8%. Compared to other causes of infant mortality, drug-involved deaths became more common after 2019.
The study also found that drug-involved infant deaths were higher in the postnatal period, between 28 and 364 days, at 81.4%, compared to deaths from other causes during the same period at 34.6%. The most common underlying causes of death included assault (homicide).drugs, medications, and biological substances contributed to 35.6% of infant deaths, followed by poisoning from narcotics and hallucinogens at 15.6%, and accidental poisoning from antiepileptic, sedative-hypnotic, antiparkinsonism, and psychotropic drugs at 10.8%. The most common combination of causes for drug-related infant deaths involved psychostimulants with abuse potential and synthetic narcotics.
Additionally, a significant number of infants who died from drug-related causes were born to non-Hispanic white (60.4%) and non-Hispanic Black mothers (28.5%). Moreover, 56.5% of drug-induced deaths were male infants and 43.7% were female infants.female infants. This difference was found to be statistically significant.
“The variations we identified in drug-related deaths by race/ethnicity, particularly among non-Hispanic white and Black infants, call for a comprehensive approach to clinical and public health interventions,” explained Panagiota “Yiota” Kitsantas, Ph.D., who is the corresponding author as well as a professor and chair of the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine at FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. “It may be crucial to address the social determinants of health, improve access to addiction treatment, and implement culturally sensitive interventions in order to prevent infant deaths.”vulnerable populations, drug-related assaults, and various forms of poisoning are all important factors to address in clinical and public health interventions.
Between 2018 and 2022, 1.18% of infant deaths were attributed to drug involvement, a significant increase from the previously reported 0.64% from 2015 to 2017. This rise was especially prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the need for further research. Additionally, drug overdose deaths also saw a significant increase among pregnant and postpartum women during this time.
The researchers emphasize the importance of addressing these issues in vulnerable populations and the need for further investigation.COVID-19 has led to decreased access to prenatal care, the rise of health care deserts, and the closure of hospitals, particularly in rural areas. These factors may have played a role in the observed increase in drug-related infant deaths, although further research is needed.
“With the alarming rise in drug overdose deaths in the general population, particularly among pregnant and postpartum women, the findings from our study are significant and timely,” commented Maria C. Mejia, M.D., senior author and a professor of population health and social medicine at FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. “Infant deaths involving drugs require further investigation.”The study suggests that addressing maternal substance use disorders, improving access to prenatal care, and addressing broader social and behavioral risk factors can help reduce infant mortality in the United States. Collaborative efforts among health providers, public health agencies, and community partners are essential for effective strategies. The researchers used data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) for the period of 2018 to 2022. 2018 was chosen as it was pre-COVI.D-19 and 2022 are the most recent years for which data is available. The information includes infant deaths categorized by year of death, underlying cause and multiple causes of death, age of the infant at the time of death, gender, and maternal race/ethnicity (including non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and other race).
The study was conducted by Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.PH, who is the first Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine and senior academic advisor; Sebastian Densley and Meera Rao, FAU medical students; Lea Sacca, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine; and Robert S. Levine, M.D., affiliate professor of medicine.; all within FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine.
