Helping Medical Assistants Promote Alcohol-Free Pregnancies-Helping Medical Assistants Promote Alcohol-Free Pregnancies

Helping Medical Assistants Promote Alcohol-Free Pregnancies

Pdf Summary

Alcohol use in the U.S. remains a critical public health issue, resulting in over 140,000 deaths annually and costing nearly a quarter trillion dollars in 2010. The potential rise in societal costs post-COVID-19 is alarming. Excessive alcohol use adversely affects individuals, families, and communities, making prevention education, screening, brief interventions (SBI), and treatment resources essential. Medical assistants are crucial in prevention, screening, brief interventions, and providing resources alongside healthcare providers.<br /><br />Specific groups, such as those under 21 and pregnant individuals, should avoid alcohol. The CDC-sponsored Medical Assistant Partnership for Healthy Pregnancies and Families (MAP) aims to focus on alcohol-free pregnancies. MAP, a collaboration among the CDC, the AAMA, and CASAT at the University of Nevada, Reno, has built on past efforts to integrate alcohol SBI into health practices and train interdisciplinary teams in primary care settings.<br /><br />MAP will develop training for medical assistants on prenatal alcohol and substance use, excessive use in the general population, access to care, and resources for families affected by FASDs. Medical assistants are vital in the healthcare team due to their significant interaction with patients, providing continuity of care and support for treatment compliance.<br /><br />Substance use during pregnancy—including alcohol, cannabis, opioids, cocaine, and methamphetamine—poses significant risks to both the mother and child. These include adverse neonatal outcomes and long-term developmental and behavioral issues, underscoring the importance of comprehensive SBI.<br /><br />MAP will assess training needs and develop targeted educational materials to support medical assistants. These resources, available for free, include CEU courses and multimedia materials to enhance practice and patient communication. Medical assistants will be pivotal in promoting substance-free pregnancies and supporting families with FASDs.

Keywords

Alcohol use

Public health

Prevention education

Screening

Brief interventions

Medical assistants

Substance use during pregnancy

FASDs

Training resources

CDC MAP