Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Nicole Ashley
Telephone: 555-555-5555
Email: nashley@liberty.edu
Website: www.Sober-mindedfaith.weebly.com

February 20, 2016

Sober-Minded Faith
Be Substance Free During Pregnancy
(Reading Level: 8.5 Based on Flesch-Kincaid) 6

(Cumberland Co, NC) Drug abuse has a major impact on individuals, families, and communities.
According to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among pregnant women aged
15 to 44 years, 5.9% were current illicit drug users.1 Drug abuse in pregnancy is a major public
health crisis. It causes increased problems in not only mothers, but also the baby.2 Women who
use drugs and receive good care during pregnancy usually have better pregnancy outcomes.
Women, who use drugs and do not receive good care, usually have poor outcomes.2
During the period of 2009-2013, Cumberland Countys total infant death rate (8.1) was
slightly higher than the States total infant death rate (7.3). Contributing factors to infant deaths
include: preterm birth, low birth weight, late access to prenatal care, and tobacco and drug use.5
Drug use during pregnancy is a factor in infant death. It is important to create programs in this
community to help fight infant death. Sober-Minded Faith is on a mission to help.
Sober-Minded Faith (SMF) is a program created to decrease the amount of women who
use drugs during pregnancies. The program also increases prenatal care. Reducing the number
of pregnant women who use drugs requires more than telling women to stop drug use.
Educating women and encouraging them to participate in routine screenings where they can
receive treatment and social support is the focus of SMF. SM hopes the amount of mother/baby
complications due to drug abuse will lessen.
SMF is influenced by The Kaiser Permanente Early Start program. This program
completed a study that screened pregnant women with urine test and substance abuse
screening questionnaires. Women received substance abuse counseling in the same clinic and
at the same time they received their prenatal care appointment.3 The study of a little less than
50,000 women found the program decreased illness and death in mothers and their babies.3
-more-

Now, were able to show everyone that not only is it the right thing to do, we will save money,
lead author Nancy C. Goler, MD, stated. This program is a very low-technology intervention
that has an enormous net cost savings.3
Pregnant women should know the importance of the affects of drug abuse during
pregnancy. If pregnant woman smoke, drink or use harmful drugs it can affect the growing baby.
It can cause problems such as; early births, miscarriages, stillbirth, heart problems, infections
and low birth weight just to name a few.4 Pregnant women often need to make changes to have
a healthy pregnancy. SMF will teach women in our community the importance of a healthy
pregnancy. It will also lead them to the steps needed for better pregnancy outcomes for mother
and baby.
Initially this program will be held at Cumberland County health department for those in
the community all of March. All women are screened by questionnaire for drug use, and by urine
testing with signed consent. A licensed substance-abuse expert working in the OB/GYN
department will see women at the same time as their prenatal-care appointments; and all
providers and patients are educated about the effects of drug, alcohol and cigarette use during
pregnancy. Fighting against drug use during pregnancy
Women interested or if you know someone who may benefit from this program, you can
find more information at www.Sober-mindedfaith.weebly.com or contact Cumberland County
Health Department at (910) 555-5353

Sober-Minded Faith is partnering with Cumberland County Health Department to fight against
the number of mothers and babies affected by substance abuse during pregnancy. SMF focus
on education, screenings and counseling in order to reduce the amount of mother and infant
deaths and illnesses related to drug abuse. Please visit www.Sober-mindedfaith.weebly.com.

###

References:
1. Oscar A., Eleazar E, Ray O. B.,et al. Fetal Anomalies and Long-Term Effects Associated
with Substance Abuse in Pregnancy: A Literature Review. J Perinatol 2015; 32(05): 405416. Accessed https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/s-00341393932. Accessed February 20, 2016
2. Roberts SCM, Pies C. Complex Calculations: How Drug Use During Pregnancy
Becomes a Barrier to Prenatal Care. Maternal and Child Health Journal. 2011;
15(3):333-341. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904854/. Accessed
February 20, 2016.
3. Goler N, Armstrong MA, Haley K, Osejo V. Early Start: An Integrated Model of
Substance Abuse Intervention for Pregnant Women. The Permanente Journal. 2007;
11(3):5-11.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3057720/. Accessed February
20, 2016.
4. March of Dimes. Street Drugs and Pregnancy. November 2013.
http://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/street-drugs-and-pregnancy.aspx#. Accessed
February 20, 2016.
5. State of the County Health Report. 2014.
http://www.co.cumberland.nc.us/health/downloads/SOTCH_Report_2014.pdf. Accessed
February 20, 2016.
6. Mullan, W.M.A. (2008) Improving your writing by using an online readability calculator.
[On-line] UK: Available: https://www.dairyscience.info/read/text-clarity.php. Accessed: 21
February 2016..