Delaware Committee Wants To Improve Discharge Rules For Babies Born Exposed To Drugs

WILMINGTON, Del. (CBS) – As the heroin and prescription drug epidemic continues to plague the Philadelphia region, experts in Delaware are looking to improve hospital discharge guidelines for infants exposed to drugs.

Delaware's Child Protection Accountability Commission is tackling discharge rules with the Committee on Substance Exposed Infants.

They are looking at ways to more accurately identify babies exposed to drugs and get them into a consistent treatment plan once they're home from the hospital.

"Make sure that they're linked with some type of consistent developmental follow up," says committee co-chair Dr. Allan DeJong from the Nemours DuPont Children's Advocacy Center.

He says primary care doctors need to link with social service agencies so they know if babies aren't making it to appointments.

He says Delaware is also looking at universal drug testing for mothers at the time of delivery which not only identifies exposed infants but could help women get into drug treatment if necessary.

The committee is still developing their final recommendations for state lawmakers.