Megan Norris, a resident of the Pittsburgh suburbs, has been waging a relentless battle against severe heroin and fentanyl addiction for over a decade. During a relapse early in her pregnancy this year, Norris became aware that the opioids she was purchasing on the streets were likely laced with a new and increasingly dangerous substance: xylazine, a potent animal tranquilizer now making its way into the street drug supply.
“It was the beginning of my pregnancy,” Norris shared. “The toll of xylazine is immense; it’s immeasurably addictive, so physically overpowering that stopping feels impossible. It’s akin to suffering from the worst flu you can imagine—intense vomiting and an overwhelming sense of despair. I felt trapped in an unending cycle of pain and addiction.”
Drug overdoses have become alarmingly prevalent, now representing a leading cause of death among pregnant women in the U.S. Research indicates that as many as 1 in 20 women may use addictive substances at some stage during their pregnancies. According to a study by the National Institutes of Health, “substance use during pregnancy is prevalent,” revealing a quadrupling in opioid use by pregnant women prior to the emergence of fentanyl, as documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Public health experts now caution that xylazine is emerging as a rapidly expanding threat to pregnant women, their fetuses, and newborns. “Almost 100% of our drug supply is fentanyl, with 80% to 90% of that being adulterated with xylazine,” explained Dr. Elizabeth Krans, a leading physician and researcher affiliated with UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, who is deeply concerned about the implications of this trend.
Dr. Krans reported seeing patients with exceptionally severe wounds, resulting from xylazine use, which only add to their pain and suffering. The toxic nature of xylazine is troubling; it was initially designed for animal sedation but has now found its way into illicit drug mixtures, creating significant health hazards for users. “One small needle mark can escalate into an extensive wound,” Norris explained. She has been grappling with these severe wounds during her pregnancy, battling both the physical effects and the stigma surrounding her addiction.
Norris expressed feelings of overwhelming shame and guilt, particularly after learning that her fetus had been exposed to xylazine. “It’s terrifying not knowing what the long-term effects could be on my baby,” she reflected.
While it may seem straightforward for pregnant women to merely cease their use of street drugs, studies illustrate the complexities of this decision. Many women desperately seek recovery upon discovering their pregnancies; however, Norris emphasized, “It’s a battle far beyond merely stopping; the struggle is deeply entrenched.” In fact, many women feel overwhelmed by their circumstances, fearing the repercussions of admitting to drug use might lead to legal consequences and loss of custody.
Dr. Ilana Hull, a physician at the University of Pittsburgh, asserted that the women enduring severe addiction genuinely care about their fetuses and newborns, yet feel ensnared in their habits and the associated challenges. “They know the potential dangers,” Hull observed. “They are frightened and anxious about the impacts on their pregnancies and babies.” Hull, who co-authored one of the pioneering studies on xylazine’s effects, described the findings as a crucial “wake-up call” for the medical community.
Recent studies reveal that the incidence of xylazine exposure appears to be alarmingly high among pregnant women using drugs. Researchers at the University of Washington in St. Louis found that the rate of xylazine-positive tests in opioid-addicted patients skyrocketed from zero percent to a staggering 100% within just a few months.
Dr. Cassandra Trammel, the lead author of the study, emphasized the immediate need for further research into xylazine’s effects on obstetric outcomes, stating, “These results highlight the urgent necessity for understanding the implications of xylazine exposure.” Furthermore, her findings revealed that 73% of newborns born to mothers testing positive for xylazine were also found to have the substance in their systems.
This alarming data exposes a significant gap in our understanding of how xylazine affects women’s reproductive health and the developmental outcomes for their fetuses. While so far, babies diagnosed after delivery have not shown the severe lesions often seen in adults, concerns remain regarding potential long-term effects.
Currently, the National Institutes of Health is funding critical research into xylazine, but doctors on the frontlines are often left to navigate treatment without comprehensive scientific guidance. “It’s incredibly frustrating when we are forced to improvise due to the lack of data on these substances,” Dr. Hull lamented. The general consensus among health care professionals is the fear that the street drug supply will continue to mutate, introducing new and unforeseen risks to pregnant women and their newborns.
Megan Norris eventually sought and received medical assistance for her fentanyl-xylazine addiction. After months of abstaining from these substances, she managed to maintain a healthy pregnancy. Nonetheless, she expressed continual anxiety about her daughter’s future amid the uncertainty surrounding the effects of xylazine exposure: “I’m still scared about what the long-term impacts could be on my baby,” she said, underscoring the weight of her concerns.
In her interview with NPR, Norris updated that she was now taking a prescribed dose of methadone, which steadily improved her health and her baby’s condition. While initial worries surrounded her daughter’s heart development, she reported positive news: “She’s fine now, just a little small.” After completing her interview with NPR, Norris gave birth to a healthy daughter, expressing a strong desire for more mothers and their babies to receive the same level of high-quality care she had experienced.
### Interview with Megan Norris: A Journey Through Addiction and Motherhood
**Interviewer**: Megan, thank you for joining us today. Your story is both powerful and troubling. Can you start by sharing what your experience has been with addiction, especially with the emergence of xylazine in the drug supply?
**Megan Norris**: Thank you for having me. I’ve struggled with severe heroin and fentanyl addiction for over a decade. This year, while I was pregnant, I experienced a relapse. That’s when I realized the opioids I was using were likely mixed with xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that’s now being found in street drugs. It was an awful realization—xylazine is immensely addictive and makes quitting feel impossible. It was like going through the worst flu you could imagine, and it really compounded my feelings of despair.
**Interviewer**: It sounds incredibly challenging, especially during pregnancy. How has your experience been impacted by the knowledge that xylazine could affect your baby?
**Megan Norris**: It’s terrifying. Learning that my fetus had been exposed to xylazine brought overwhelming shame and guilt. I constantly worry about the long-term effects on my baby. It’s a burden I carry every day. I know I should stop, but the addiction feels like a trap that’s hard to escape. There’s also the stigma; I feel judged, and that makes it even harder to seek help.
**Interviewer**: Many women in similar situations are also concerned about the repercussions of admitting drug use. What do you think prevents pregnant women from seeking help?
**Megan Norris**: Absolutely. There’s a real fear of legal consequences and losing custody of your child. Many women, like myself, are desperate to recover but feel overwhelmed by our circumstances. The struggle is deeper than just wanting to stop; it’s a battle with addiction that’s very much entrenched.
**Interviewer**: You mentioned seeing severe physical effects from xylazine use. Can you describe what that looks like for you and others you know?
**Megan Norris**: Yes. I’ve had severe wounds from injecting, which only add to the pain. It’s heartbreaking because something that began as a coping mechanism has turned into a source of even greater suffering. A small needle mark can quickly escalate into something much worse, and it’s so disheartening to see others endure similar fates.
**Interviewer**: Dr. Krans highlighted that the drug supply is increasingly dangerous, mostly tainted with xylazine. What can be done to address this crisis?
**Megan Norris**: I believe we need more awareness and compassion in dealing with addiction, especially during pregnancy. Healthcare professionals must recognize the challenges faced by women like me and advocate for more support systems rather than punishment. We need to create safe spaces where we can get the help we need without fear.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Megan, for sharing your experience. It’s crucial to understand the complexities surrounding addiction, especially for pregnant women. Your voice sheds light on a troubling issue that deserves urgent attention.
**Megan Norris**: Thank you for having me. I hope by sharing my story, it can create understanding and help others who are facing similar battles.
