Study links prenatal drug or alcohol exposure to doubled risk of infant death with impaired caregivers.

A recent study in Pediatrics finds that infants prenatally exposed to drugs or alcohol are twice as likely to have impaired caregivers at the time of their death. Among the 2,010 infants studied, 14% had prenatal substance exposure, and 34% of their caregivers were impaired compared to 16% of non-exposed infants' caregivers. The risk increases with bed sharing; over half of the deaths occurred in adult beds. The study emphasizes the need for targeted efforts to prevent sudden infant death, including discouraging bed-sharing and substance use.

November 19, 2024
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