Pregnant women and babies face 'terrifying' threat from xylazine addiction

Pregnant women and babies face 'terrifying' threat from xylazine addiction toggle caption Brian Mann/NPR PITTSBURGH — Megan Norris, who lives outside Pittsburgh, has battled severe heroin and fentanyl addiction for more than a decade. "They're scared, they're terrified" Dr. Ilana Hull, a doctor at the University of Pittsburgh, said it's clear most women experiencing the kind of severe addiction that exposes them to fentanyl and xylazine do care deeply about their fetuses and newborns, but they often feel trapped and overwhelmed. Sponsor Message Hull co-authored one of the first studies of xylazine’s impact on pregnant women, a report she described as a "wake-up call." A new study conducted by Washington University in St. Louis found the rate of xylazine-positive tests in opioid-addicted patients cared for in one of the city's maternity wards surged from zero percent in December 2022 to 100% by July 2023. toggle caption American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Cassandra Trammel/American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Cassandra Trammel "These results underscore the critical need to further study the impact of xylazine on obstetric outcomes," concluded lead author Dr. Cassandra Trammel.