Perinatal Addiction Prevention Project
The statewide Perinatal Addictions Prevention Project provides education for professionals and consumers regarding substance use before, during, after pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Education focuses on prevention and risk reduction to improve the health of women, children and their families.
Current literature regarding research, current trends, legal matters are regularly distributed throughout the central region to addiction, prenatal, judicial and many other professionals working with women of child bearing years. This service has been established to address and coordinate perinatal addiction services and provide updated education.
In addition, a statewide task force for Fetal Alcohol Spectrums Disorders has been established. Concerns, barriers to care, solutions, coordination of services, and current education are addressed and disseminated throughout the state. A state guide for families has been constructed to help navigate the maze of the many services needed to help children or adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
The Perinatal Addiction Prevention Project (PAPP) also offers a four – week smoking cessation curriculum for women of child bearing years. The content is supportive and didactic. In conjunction with the consumer groups, Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs) will be prescribed as needed by qualified health care professionals.
PAPP also promotes the use of a prenatal screening tool, called 4Ps Plus, for alcohol, tobacco, other drug use and domestic violence. The tool also offers appropriate intervention to address these maternal and fetal risk factors.
