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We Can Do Better: An Argument For Improved Care Of The Opioid Addicted Mother-Infant Dyad, Michele K. Savin, Msn, Nnp-Bc

College of Nursing Faculty Papers & Presentations

As the number of addicted maternal-infant dyads increases, so does the need for nursing to expand its understanding of the addiction process and the evidencebased interventions that best serve mothers and infants. Nursing attitudes toward the opioid-addicted mother and infant dyad are influenced by knowledge deficits and communication difficulties. Care required encompasses medical, legal, social, and economic perspectives. Professionals and society at large have disagreements regarding whether to approach the phenomenon from a punitive or supportive strategy. Facilities to care for the mother-infant dyad with addiction are limited. Increasing knowledge has great potential for active understanding and ability to impact …