DRUG ADDICTED BABIES

In reply to the Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (22 June 2011) (First Session).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women): The Minister for Health and Ageing has been advised:

The data referred to by the Honourable Member relates to an article published on 24 October 2007 in the Standard and Guardian Messenger.

Professor Ross Haslam, the then Medical Unit Head of the Department of Neonatology at the Women's and Children's Hospital, quoted data in the article for the number of substance abusing women as 3.5 per cent for 2007.

Since 2007, there has been a decrease in the percentage of mothers who are substance users (i.e. drug and/or alcohol users) birthing at the Women's and Children's Hospital.

At the Women's and Children's Hospital over the past five years, the percentage of substance abusing women ranged between 3.52 per cent to 2.5 per cent of total births at the Hospital, which equates to between 170 to 118 mothers respectively who are substance users.

A number of strategies have been established by the Government to improve the outcome of babies born to mothers who are substance users.

At the Women's and Children's Hospital for example, women who are identified as drug and alcohol dependent during pregnancy are referred to the Women's and Children's Hospital High Risk Pregnancy Clinic.

This clinic assists women with the control of their condition and thus minimise post birth consequences for both them and their baby.

Children born into drug and alcohol dependent situations are often at risk of neglect. Staff at the Women's and Children's Health Network (formerly the Children, Youth and Women's Health Service), who work with vulnerable infants such as these, undertake mandated notification training for reporting child abuse and neglect. There is also information available to staff in relation to the rights and responsibilities of patients in this regard.

A notification is made to Families SA, where it is assessed that the infant is at high risk of neglect or abuse.

Babies born with a physiological dependence to drugs are assessed and treatment provided. Some infants are discharged on treatment if stable, where drug therapy has reached a minimum level, and the family environment is considered safe.

The Women's and Children's Hospital provides a midwife to assist the family in the first two weeks within the metropolitan Adelaide area and referral is made, with parental consent, to the Child and Family Health Service for the initial universal contact visit.

The Universal Contact Visit is voluntary and in partnership with the client the Child and Families Health Service determines the best service response. Some clients are suitable for the Family Home Visiting program which is a two year parenting program.

Babies discharged from the Women's and Children's Hospital after being treated for withdrawal from their physiological dependence are visited at home by Women's and Children's Hospital neonatal nursing or domiciliary midwifery staff, depending on the level of care required.