A plausible causal relationship between increased use of fentanyl as an obstetric analgesic ...

What is it about?

Robust data indicate a convincing correlation between the exposure of the fetus to other labor medications (morphine, pethidine hydrochloride, barbiturates, phenobarbitone, meperidine, and secobarbital) and the later addiction of young adults to the same category of drug. We present the hypothesis that this effect is also true of the opioid, fentanyl.

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Why is it important?

There is robust evidence correlating drugs used in labor to manage maternal pain and later drug of abuse choices, but fentanyl, a medication that has increased in popularity since the early 1980’s, has not been studied. In addition, alternative medications and other non-pharmacologic strategies for managing the pain of labor have been largely abandoned in favor of fentanyl epidurals, with three-quarters of women in the United States now giving birth with epidurals in place. At a cost of half a trillion dollars a year, it is certainly financially prudent to conduct this research. If our hypothesis is confirmed through rigorous research, there are significant implications, especially for the healthcare fields of obstetrics and addiction as well as healthcare economy.