Pregnancy and Postpartum Drug Overdose Deaths in the US Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

"There was no services that I could access so I just stayed on the street…using until I went into labour.": A qualitative study of accessibility and cultural safety of services for perinatal substance use in British Columbia, Canada

BACKGROUND

Perinatal substance use is a critical public health challenge, impacting both mother and fetus. Its prevalence has increased in British Columbia, Canada, disproportionately impacting First Nations people. For specialized perinatal substance use services to be effective, they must be accessible and safe. This study aimed to explore the accessibility and cultural safety of health services for perinatal substance use from the perspective of service users.

METHODS

We conducted a qualitative study from six focus group discussions, consisting of five in-person sharing circles for people with lived/living experience of pregnancy and substance use and one virtual focus group with inreach workers, for a total of 55 participants including 48 people with lived experience and seven inreach workers across the five health delivery regions in British Columbia. We interpreted results using thematic analysis and narrative inquiry to explore inductively and deductively derived themes.

RESULTS

Participants identified a lack of perinatal substance use specific services, particularly supportive housing facilities and wrap-around community centres in the province but highlighted that community-based services they were able to access made participants feel safe and respected. Thematic analysis identified six themes related to accessibility and cultural safety: geographic disparities in access to care, importance of Indigenous culture for Indigenous client's healing, transitions as critical moments in service accessibility, safe services protect the mother-infant dyad, inconsistent access to opioid agonist treatment, and relationality as a crucial element of safe service delivery.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that services that preserve the mother-infant dyad, incorporate wholistic care including Indigenous culture, and are relationship-based are experienced as accessible and safe, and those that do not are often mistrusted and avoided. This study highlights needed improvements, particularly of acute care services, through supporting instead of reporting birthing parents with substance use, ensuring continuous access to opioid agonist treatment for pregnant people with opioid use disorder, and suffusing the client-provider relationship with empathy, respect, and connection.

Is severe maternal morbidity a risk factor for postpartum hospitalization with mental health or substance use disorder diagnoses? Findings from a retrospective cohort study in Maryland: 2016-2019

BACKGROUND

Perinatal mental health conditions and substance use are leading causes, often co-occurring, of pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths in the United States. This study compares odds of hospitalization with a mental health condition or substance use disorder or both during the first year postpartum between patients with and without severe maternal morbidity (SMM) during delivery hospitalization.

METHODS

Data are from the Maryland's State Inpatient Database and include patients with a delivery hospitalization during 2016-2018 (n = 197,749). We compare rate of hospitalization with a mental health condition or substance use disorder or both at 42 days and 43 days to 1 year postpartum by occurrence of SMM during the delivery hospitalization. We use multivariable logistic regression to derive the odds of hospitalization with each outcome for patients by SMM status, adjusted for patient sociodemographic characteristics, presence of mental health condition or substance use disorder diagnoses during the delivery hospitalization, and delivery outcome. All SMM, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders are identified using ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes.

RESULTS

Overall, 5,793 patients (2.9%) who delivered during 2016-2018 experienced hospitalization in the year following delivery. Among these patients, 24.3% (n = 1,410) had a mental health condition diagnosis, 10.6% (n = 619) had a substance use disorder diagnosis, and 9.8% (n = 570) had co-occurring mental health condition and substance use disorder diagnoses. Patients with SMM had 3.7 times the adjusted odds (95% CI 2.7, 5.2) of hospitalization with a mental health condition diagnosis, 2.7 times the odds (95% CI 1.6, 4.4) of a hospitalization with substance use disorder diagnosis, and 3.0 times the odds (95% CI 1.8, 4.8) of hospitalization with co-occurring mental health condition and substance use disorder diagnoses during the first-year postpartum.

CONCLUSION

Patients who experience SMM during their delivery hospitalization had higher odds of hospitalization with a mental health condition, substance use disorder, and co-occurring mental health condition and substance use disorder in the one-year postpartum period. Treatment and support resources for mental health and substance use providers --including enhanced screening and personal introduction of providers -- should be made available to patients with SMM upon discharge after delivery, and evidence-based interventions to improve mental health and reduce substance use should be prioritized in these patients.

Using ICD Codes Alone May Misclassify Overdoses Among Perinatal People

INTRODUCTION

As perinatal drug overdoses continue to rise, reliable approaches are needed to monitor overdose trends during pregnancy and postpartum. This analysis aimed to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of ICD-9/10-CM codes for drug overdose events among people in the MATernaL and Infant clinical NetworK (MAT-LINK) with medication for opioid use disorder during pregnancy.

METHODS

People included in this analysis had electronic health record documentation of medication for opioid use disorder and a known pregnancy outcome from January 1, 2014, through August 31, 2021. Data were analyzed during pregnancy through 1 year postpartum. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's drug overdose case definitions were used to categorize overdose based on ICD-9/10-CM codes. These codes were compared to abstracted electronic health record data of any drug overdose. Analyses were conducted between May 2023 and May 2024.

RESULTS

Among 3,911 pregnancies with electronic health record-documented medication for opioid use disorder, the sensitivity of ICD-9/10-CM codes for capturing drug overdose during pregnancy was 32.7%, while specificity was 98.5%, positive predictive value was 23.4%, and negative predictive value was 99.0%. The sensitivity of ICD-9/10-CM codes for capturing drug overdose postpartum was 30.9%, while specificity was 98.4%, positive predictive value was 25.9%, and negative predictive value was 98.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

The sensitivity and positive predictive value of ICD-9/10-CM codes for capturing drug overdose compared with abstracted electronic health record data during the perinatal period was low in this cohort of people with medication for opioid use disorder during pregnancy, though the specificity and negative predictive value were high. Incorporating other data from electronic health records and outside the healthcare system might provide more comprehensive insights on nonfatal drug overdose in this population.

Navigating recovery while postpartum: examining the relationship between maternal functioning and substance use disorders

Our current understanding of postpartum people's functioning while managing substance use disorder (SUD) recovery is limited. This study explored whether having a SUD impacts maternal functioning and examined the reliability of the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF) in postpartum people with SUDs. We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional survey (n = 141) by administering the BIMF and a demographic questionnaire with a sample of postpartum people with SUD (n = 48) and a comparative sample of postpartum people without SUD (n = 93). The internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha = .86) was consistent with previous studies. SUD diagnosis was significantly associated with lower functioning, with individuals in the SUD group having an 8-point lower BIMF score compared to persons without SUDs, although both groups reported moderately high BIMF scores (>80). While not statistically significant, participants with SUDs had reduced functioning scores over time. Considering the increasing rate of overdose deaths in postpartum persons, further examination of functioning in postpartum persons with SUDs is warranted. Integration of the BIMF into SUD screening and treatment can provide a holistic view of postpartum experiences in this high-risk population and serve as a unique tool to understand the needs of new mothers navigating SUD recovery.

Pre-natal and post-natal screening and testing in neonatal abstinence syndrome

The way we enact screening for substance use during pregnancy within our healthcare systems can work by decreasing stigma, promoting engagement, and supporting people with reaching the end of their pregnancy in a manner where the newborn can be well supported. The way we enact biochemical specimen toxicology testing for substance use during pregnancy and in newborns contributes to increased stigma, disengagement from care, and potential continuation of uncontrolled substance use up until delivery such that the newborn may not be able to be well supported in the family environment. These effects are inequitably distributed, leading to worse outcomes for families of color and families living in poverty. Serial screening with a validated questionnaire starting at the first prenatal visit and continuing through the delivery hospitalization should occur and be followed up with service connections and substance use disorder diagnosis and treatment. Newborn toxicology testing as a diagnostic tool for risk of withdrawal or the etiology of potential withdrawal symptoms represents a failure in the effectiveness of compassionate communication by healthcare providers with the birthing person. Given the current level of evidence of clinical utility and the inequitable consequences specific to these tests, they are rarely needed.

Challenges for Antepartum Care of the Individual with Perinatal Substance Use: An Empirical Integrative Review of Novel Approaches to Improve Care

INTRODUCTION

Perinatal substance use continues to rise across the United States presenting unique challenges to providing antepartum care. Polysubstance use, limited and late engagement in health care, co-occurring mood disorders, and several social barriers are well documented. This review seeks to summarize these barriers and present novel approaches to caring for this high-risk population.

METHODS

Inclusion criteria for this study focused on peer-reviewed articles that explicitly detailed a direct impact on the provision or receipt of antenatal care in the setting of substance use within the United States that were published in the last 5 years. PubMed and Web of Science were used to find applicable articles. Of the 156 articles found, 10 relevant articles were selected for the final empirical integrative review that entailed data evaluation using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and thematic analysis.

RESULTS

10 review articles met inclusion; 3 were qualitative, 6 were quantitative and nonrandomized, and one was quantitative descriptive. Six articles met MMAT quality criteria, and there were significant limitations in every article. Topics included opioid use disorder (n = 6), general substance use (n = 3), and tobacco use (n = 1). Themes included integrated models of prenatal care, colocated care, resource coordination, and peer support along with the role of the perinatal health care professional and consistent use of a substance use screening tool.

DISCUSSION

A comprehensive and multidisciplinary care model is necessary to meet the complex and urgent needs of individuals with perinatal substance use that not only meets recommendations for opioid maintenance therapy or substance use cessation but the important areas of accessibility and interpersonal support. Future research should focus on the development, implementation, and evaluation of new models of care for this vulnerable population.

Pregnancy and the Rising Challenge of Opioid Dependency: A Summary of Potential Solutions

The increasing incidence of opioid use disorder (OUD) among pregnant women in the United States constitutes a significant public health concern, jeopardizing both maternal and fetal health. Proposed solutions include opioid maintenance therapy, telemedicine, and integrated prenatal care centers. These strategies seek to mitigate harm and enhance therapeutic accessibility, yet encounter obstacles, including stigma, technological access, and ethical problems. While opioid maintenance therapy stabilizes addiction, telemedicine expands access, and integrated centers streamline care, each strategy requires policy support, community acceptance, and further evaluation to optimize outcomes for pregnant women with OUD.

Services for perinatal patients with opioid use disorder: a comprehensive Baltimore City-wide 2023 assessment

BACKGROUND

Overdose is a leading cause of maternal mortality; in response, maternal mortality review committees have recommended expanding substance use disorder (SUD) screening, improving collaboration between obstetric and SUD treatment providers, and reducing fragmentation in systems of care. We undertook an analysis of the perinatal SUD treatment landscape in Baltimore, Maryland in order to identify barriers to treatment engagement during pregnancy and the postpartum period and guide system improvement efforts.

METHODS

We conducted a survey of seven birthing hospitals, 31 prenatal care practices, and 108 SUD treatment providers in Baltimore from April-June 2023. Organizations were asked to quantify care for perinatal patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) as well as about screening, service availability, referral practices, and support needed to improve care.

RESULTS

61% of the 145 contacted organizations responded. Birthing hospitals reported caring for pregnant persons with OUD with greater frequency than prenatal care practices or SUD treatment programs. Most birthing hospitals and prenatal care practices reported screening for OUD at intake, but the minority reported using validated tools. Service availability varied by type of organization and type of service. In general, prenatal care practices offered the fewest number of SUD-related services. Most SUD treatment programs that offered buprenorphine or methadone to the general population also offered these medications to pregnant patients. Withdrawal management for comorbid alcohol/benzodiazepine use disorders during pregnancy was more limited. The majority of birthing hospitals and prenatal care practices reported offering neither direct naloxone distribution nor prescriptions. Few SUD treatment programs offered tailored services for perinatal patients or for parents of young children, and many programs do not permit children onsite. Respondents reported high levels of interest in education and consultative support on SUD treatment in pregnancy within obstetric settings and on pregnancy-related medical concerns within SUD programs.

CONCLUSIONS

This project provides a comprehensive picture of services available for treatment of perinatal OUD in a major US city. Results have served as a guide for ongoing citywide system improvement efforts by our project team and offer a model for other jurisdictions hoping to strengthen services for perinatal OUD and reduce maternal mortality.

Contraceptive uptake in postpartum people with and without opioid use disorder and opioid use with co-occurring substance use

Background

Using contraception to delay pregnancy allows people with opioid use disorder (OUD) to choose when they are ready to continue their families. Yet, postpartum contraceptive uptake among people with OUD has not been well characterized.

Methods

Analyses used 73,811 pregnancy episodes among 61,221 people (2016-2021) from the St. Louis University-SSM Virtual Data Warehouse. OUD was defined from the year prior and through pregnancy. Contraceptive uptake was defined within 90-days after delivery. We used Generalized Estimating Equations-type multinomial logit models to assess association of OUD +/- co-occurring substance use disorders (SUDs) with any contraception (yes/no) and type of contraception (effective - pills, patch, ring, injection; or highly effective - long-acting reversible, LARC methods [intrauterine device, implant] and sterilization).

Results

The sample was 66.0 % white and average age was 27.7 years (±5.6). 32.5 % of pregnancies were followed by contraception initiation, 2.3 % had an OUD diagnosis, and 1.3 % OUD with co-occurring SUD. There was no association between OUD and postpartum contraception receipt, but OUD was associated with decreased highly effective compared to effective method initiation (aOR=0.76; 95 % CI: [0.64-0.91]). OUD plus co-occurring SUD was associated with decreased uptake across all contraception types (aOR=0.81[0.70-0.93]), specifically, highly-effective methods (aOR=0.48[0.38-0.61]).

Conclusions

Overall postpartum contraception uptake among people with OUD is comparable to uptake in the non-OUD population. People with OUD plus co-occurring SUDs are particularly unlikely to receive contraception. The reasons people choose contraceptive methods are complex and may differ by SUD severity. More information is needed to understand factors that impact postpartum contraception initiation.

Prenatal methamphetamine use increases risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes

BACKGROUND

Although methamphetamine use has been increasing in recent years and occurring within new populations and in broader geographical areas, there is limited research on its use and effect in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the association between prenatal methamphetamine use and maternal and neonatal outcomes in a large, contemporary birth cohort.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study using California-linked vital statistics and hospital discharge data from 2008 to 2019. Methamphetamine use was identified using the International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision, codes. Chi-square tests and multivariable Poisson regression models were used to evaluate the associations between methamphetamine use and maternal and neonatal outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 4,775,463 pregnancies met the inclusion criteria, of which 18,473 (0.39%) had methamphetamine use. Compared with individuals without methamphetamine use, individuals with methamphetamine use had an increased risk of nonsevere hypertensive disorders (adjusted risk ratio, 1.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.71-1.90), preeclampsia with severe features (adjusted risk ratio, 3.38; 95% confidence interval, 3.14-3.63), placental abruption (adjusted risk ratio, 3.77; 95% confidence interval, 3.51-4.05), cardiovascular morbidity (adjusted risk ratio, 4.30; 95% confidence interval, 3.79-4.88), and severe maternal morbidity (adjusted risk ratio, 3.53; 95% confidence interval, 3.29-3.77). In addition, adverse neonatal outcomes were increased, including preterm birth at <37 weeks of gestation (adjusted risk ratio, 2.85; 95% confidence interval, 2.77-2.94), neonatal intensive care unit admission (adjusted risk ratio, 2.46; 95% confidence interval, 2.39-2.53), and infant death (adjusted risk ratio, 2.73; 95% confidence interval, 2.35-3.16).

CONCLUSION

Methamphetamine use in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes that persists after adjustment for confounding variables and sociodemographic factors. Our results can inform prenatal and postpartum care for this high-risk, socioeconomically vulnerable population.

Estimated Number of Children Who Lost a Parent to Drug Overdose in the US From 2011 to 2021

Importance

Parents' overdose death can have a profound short- and long-term impact on their children, yet little is known about the number of children who have lost a parent to drug overdose in the US.

Objective

To estimate the number and rate of children who have lost a parent to drug overdose from 2011 to 2021 overall and by parental age, sex, and race and ethnicity.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This was a cross-sectional study of US community-dwelling persons using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2010-2014 and 2015-2019) and the National Vital Statistics System (2011-2021). Data were analyzed from January to June 2023.

Exposure

Parental drug overdose death, stratified by age group, sex, and race and ethnicity.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Numbers, rates, and average annual percentage change (AAPC) in rates of children losing a parent aged 18 to 64 years to drug overdose, overall and by age, sex, and race and ethnicity.

Results

From 2011 to 2021, 649 599 adults aged 18 to 64 years died from a drug overdose (mean [SD] age, 41.7 [12.0] years; 430 050 [66.2%] male and 219 549 [33.8%] female; 62 606 [9.6%] Hispanic, 6899 [1.1%] non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native, 6133 [0.9%] non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander, 82 313 [12.7%] non-Hispanic Black, 485 623 [74.8%] non-Hispanic White, and 6025 [0.9%] non-Hispanic with more than 1 race). Among these decedents, from 2011 to 2021, an estimated 321 566 (95% CI, 276 592-366 662) community-dwelling children lost a parent aged 18 to 64 years to drug overdose. The rate of community-dwelling children who lost a parent to drug overdose per 100 000 children increased from 27.0 per 100 000 in 2011 to 63.1 per 100 000 in 2021. The highest rates were found among children of non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native individuals, who had a rate of 187.1 per 100 000 in 2021, more than double the rate among children of non-Hispanic White individuals (76.5 per 100 000) and non-Hispanic Black individuals (73.2 per 100 000). While rates increased consistently each year for all parental age, sex, and race and ethnicity groups, non-Hispanic Black parents aged 18 to 25 years had the largest AAPC (23.8%; 95% CI, 16.5-31.6). Rates increased for both fathers and mothers; however, more children overall lost fathers (estimated 192 459; 95% CI, 164 081-220 838) than mothers (estimated 129 107; 95% CI, 112 510-145 824).

Conclusions and Relevance

An estimated 321 566 children lost a parent to drug overdose in the US from 2011 to 2021, with significant disparities evident across racial and ethnic groups. Given the potential short- and long-term negative impact of parental loss, program and policy planning should ensure that responses to the overdose crisis account for the full burden of drug overdose on families and children, including addressing the economic, social, educational, and health care needs of children who have lost parents to overdose.

Increases in drug-related infant mortality in the United States

OBJECTIVES

We explored temporal trends in drug-related infant deaths in the United States (U.S.) from 2018 to 2022.

METHODS

We used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER). A total of 295 drug-involved infant deaths were identified from 2018 to 2022 (provisional mortality data for year 2022) based on the underlying cause of death.

RESULTS

In the U.S. from 2018 to 2022, there was a significant 2.2-fold increase in drug-involved infant mortality. The observed increases were higher in non-Hispanic White and Black infants. The findings show that drug-involved infant deaths were more likely to occur in the postneonatal period, defined as ages 28-364 days (81.4 %) compared to the neonatal period. The most prevalent underlying causes of death included assault (homicide) by drugs, medicaments and biological substances (35.6 %) followed by poisoning due to exposure to narcotics and psychodysleptics (hallucinogens) (15.6 %). The most common multiple causes of drug-involved infant deaths were psychostimulants with abuse potential of synthetic narcotics.

CONCLUSIONS

Drug-related infant mortality has increased significantly from 2018 to 2022. These increases are particularly evident among White and Black infants and occurred predominantly in the postneonatal period. These findings require more research but also indicate the need to address drug-involved infant deaths as preventable clinical and public health issues. Effective strategies to reduce drug-involved infant deaths will require preventing and treating maternal substance use disorders, enhancing prenatal care access, and addressing broader social and behavioral risk factors among vulnerable maternal and infant populations.

Is severe maternal morbidity a risk factor for postpartum hospitalization with mental health or substance use disorder diagnoses? Findings from a retrospective cohort study in Maryland: 2016-2019

BACKGROUND

Perinatal mental health conditions and substance use are leading causes, often co-occurring, of pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths in the United States. This study compares odds of hospitalization with a mental health condition or substance use disorder or both during the first year postpartum between patients with and without severe maternal morbidity (SMM) during delivery hospitalization.

Methods

Data are from the Maryland's State Inpatient Database and include patients with a delivery hospitalization during 2016-2018 (n = 197,749). We compare rate of hospitalization with a mental health condition or substance use disorder or both at 42 days and 42 days to 1 year postpartum by occurrence of SMM during the delivery hospitalization. We use multivariable logistic regression to derive the odds of hospitalization with each outcome for patients by SMM status, adjusted for patient sociodemographic characteristics, presence of mental health condition or substance use disorder diagnoses during the delivery hospitalization, and delivery outcome. SMM, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders are identified using ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes.

RESULTS

Overall, 5,793 patients (2.9%) who delivered during 2016-2018 experienced hospitalization in the year following delivery. Among these patients, 24.3% (n = 1,410) had a mental health condition diagnosis, 10.6% (n = 619) had a substance use disorder diagnosis, and 9.8% (n = 570) had co-occurring mental health condition and substance use disorder diagnoses. Patients with SMM had 3.7 times the odds (95% CI 2.7, 5.2) of hospitalization with a mental health condition diagnosis, 2.7 times the odds (95% CI 1.6, 4.4) of a hospitalization with substance use disorder diagnosis, and 3.0 times the odds (95% CI 1.8, 4.8) of hospitalization with co-occurring mental health condition and substance use disorder diagnoses during the first-year postpartum adjusting for covariates.

CONCLUSION

Patients who experience SMM during their delivery hospitalization had higher odds of hospitalization with a mental health condition, substance use disorder, and co-occurring mental health condition and substance use disorder in the one-year postpartum period. Treatment and support resources for mental health and substance use providers --including enhanced screening and warm handoffs -- should be made available to patients with SMM upon discharge after delivery, and evidence-based interventions to improve mental health and reduce substance use should be prioritized in these patients.

Listening to Black Pregnant and Postpartum People: Using Technology to Enhance Equity in Screening and Treatment of Perinatal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), perinatal substance use disorders (PSUDs), and intimate partner violence (IPV) are leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths in the United States. Screening and referral for PMADs, PSUDs and IPV is recommended, however, racial disparities are prominent: Black pregnant and postpartum people (PPP) are less likely to be screened and attend treatment compared to White PPP. We conducted qualitative interviews to better understand the experience of Black PPP who used a text/phone-based screening and referral program for PMADs/PSUDs and IPV-Listening to Women and Pregnant and Postpartum People (LTWP). We previously demonstrated that LTWP led to a significant reduction in racial disparities compared to in-person screening and referral, and through the current study, sought to identify facilitators of PMAD/PSUD symptom endorsement and treatment attendance. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 68 Black PPP who were or had been pregnant within the last 24 months, and who either had or did not have a PMAD or PSUD. Participants were enrolled in LTWP and provided feedback on their experience. Using a grounded theory approach, four themes emerged: usability, comfort, necessity, and recommendations. Ease of use, brevity, convenience, and comfort in discussing mental health and substance use via text were highlighted. Need for a program like LTWP in Black communities was discussed, given the reduction in perceived judgement and access to trusted information and resources for PMADs/PSUDs, which may lessen stigma. These qualitative findings illuminate how technology-based adaptations to behavioral health screening and referral can reduce perceived negative judgment and facilitate identification and referral to treatment, thereby more adequately meeting needs of Black PPP.

Unmet need for alcohol use disorder treatment in reproductive-age females, with emphasis on pregnant and parenting populations in the United States: Findings from NSDUH 2015-2021

The negative effects of alcohol use can transmit intergenerational harm if alcohol use disorder (AUD) occurs during pregnancy and/or while parenting a child. Prenatal alcohol exposure is the leading preventable cause of congenital anomalies in the USA, and heavy drinking in women has been on the rise, further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study describes the most recent patterns in the past year AUD prevalence and treatment among reproductive-aged women, with a specific focus on pregnant and parenting women, and barriers to treatment among those affected. We analyzed data on reproductive-age women from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2015-2021). We used generalized linear models to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) for past 12-month AUD and its treatment based on DSM-V criteria. We considered sociodemographic characteristics, including age, race/ethnicity, income, health insurance type, and arrest history. Pregnant and parenting women displayed lower risk for AUD (PR = 0.48, 95% CI:0.41-0.57; PR = 0.5 95% CI:0.48-0.54, respectively) relative to non-pregnant/non-parenting women. Excess risk for AUD was associated with education (some college vs. college graduates, PR = 1.07, 95% CI:1.01-1.13) and history of arrests (PR = 2.93, 95% CI:2.67-3.21). There were no clear differences in AUD treatment use based on parenting or pregnancy status. Among those with AUD, the prevalence of treatment was higher among individuals aged 35-49 years compared to those 18-25 years (PR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.19-2.14) and in those enrolled in Medicaid vs. private insurance (PR = 2.62, 95%CI:1.97-3.47). Financial barriers and treatment not being a priority were the most frequently reported barriers to treatment. To promote well-being among parents and their children, healthcare providers should prioritize reproductive-age women at higher AUD risk. Decreasing the stigma attached to AUD and intensifying efforts to educate women about the dangers of AUD may improve treatment use among pregnant and parenting women.

Sex differences in neonatal outcomes following prenatal opioid exposure

The impact of the opioid epidemic on pregnant people and children is a growing public health crisis. Understanding how opioids affect the developing brain during pregnancy and postnatally remains a critical area of investigation. Biological sex plays a crucial role in all physiologic processes, with the potential for a significant impact on neonatal outcomes, including those infants with opioid exposure. Here, we aim to explore current literature on the effect of sex on neonatal outcomes following prenatal opioid exposure. Sex differences in adults with opioid use disorder have been well studied, including increased mortality among males and higher rates of psychiatric comorbidities and likelihood of relapse in females. However, such differences are not yet well understood in neonates. Emerging clinical data suggest sex-specific effects in infants with prenatal opioid exposure on the expression of genes related to feeding regulation and reward signaling pathways. Increased susceptibility to white matter injury has also been noted in female infants following prenatal opioid exposure. Understanding the impact of sex as a biological variable on neonatal outcomes following prenatal opioid exposure is paramount to improving the health and well-being of infants, children, and adults impacted by the opioid epidemic.

Telehealth Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder During Pregnancy

This cohort study evaluates opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment and pregnancy outcomes among pregnant patients receiving OUD care through a multistate telemedicine program in the US.

County-level neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome rates and real-world access to buprenorphine during pregnancy: An audit ("secret shopper") study in Missouri

Background

Amid rising rates of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) worldwide and in many regions of the USA, we conducted an audit study ("secret shopper study") to evaluate the influence of county-level buprenorphine capacity and rurality on county-level NOWS rates.

Methods

In 2019, up to three phone calls were made to buprenorphine prescribers in the state of Missouri (USA). County-level buprenorphine capacity was defined as the number of clinicians (across all specialties) accepting pregnant people divided by the number of births. Multivariable negative binomial regression models estimated associations between buprenorphine capacity, rurality, and county-level NOWS rates, controlling for potential confounders (i.e., poverty, unemployment, and physician shortages) that may correspond to higher rates of NOWS and lower rates of buprenorphine prescribing. Analyses were stratified using tertiles of county-level overdose rates (top, middle, and lowest 1/3 of overdose rates).

Results

Of 115 Missouri counties, 81(70 %) had no buprenorphine capacity, 17(15 %) were low-capacity (<0.5-clinicians/1,000 births), and 17(15 %) were high-capacity (≥0.5/1,000 births). The mean NOWS rate was 6.5/1,000 births. In Missouri counties with both the highest and lowest opioid overdose rates, higher buprenorphine capacity did not correspond to decreases in NOWS rates (incidence rate ratio[IRR]=1.23[95 %-confidence-interval[CI]=0.65-2.32] and IRR=1.57[1.21-2.03] respectively). Rurality did not correspond to greater NOWS burden in both Missouri counties with highest and lowest opioid overdose rates.

Conclusions

The vast majority of counties in Missouri have no capacity for buprenorphine prescribing during pregnancy. Rurality and lower buprenorphine capacity did not significantly predict elevated rates of NOWS.

Rural service coordination programming for women using substances and their families

BACKGROUND

Women experiencing substance use during their pregnancies or after the birth of a child report being fearful of losing their children based on care, stigmatized when seeking assistance, and barriers to care such as having to provide the same information to different providers, and having to repeat their lived experiences with substance use in detail. Particularly these service barriers can be confusing, complicated, and difficult to follow, which could lead to non-compliance or not seeking services.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated components of a service coordination program for women experiencing substance use, their children, and larger families who help with caregiving. We examined stakeholder interest in the program, feasibility providing services over time, and initial program effectiveness.

DESIGN

Participant enrollment and outcomes as well as service coordination activities provided over a 4-year period was gathered across three demonstration site locations (a birthing hospital, reunification program, and home visiting program).

METHODS

Program information was gathered from needs assessment data, health survey data from enrolled caregivers and infants, training evaluations, and budget recordings of direct aid. In this mixed method design, we examined potential differences between baseline and the last assessment for women and children enrolled in the program. We also utilized univariate analyses of variance to examine the main effects of maternal and infant characteristics on final maternal and infant outcomes.

RESULTS

Three sites enrolled 182 women and families for program services. Patient navigators provided direct aid, training, goal setting, and service coordination and planning. Families remained in the program, on average, 655 days and were satisfied with the services received. Respondents thought the program elements were easy to implement within the rural setting. The program effectively addressed basic needs, violence (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.34 (0.05-0.53)), infant development (p < 0.02; η2 = 0.51 (0.13-0.61)), and maternal depression (p < 0.05; η2 = 0.9 (0.00-0.22)). Select outcomes did differ by site.

CONCLUSION

A service coordination model utilizing a patient navigator role to coordinate client services coupled with an approach that serves the infant and caregiver needs was feasible and desirable by all stakeholders within a rural setting. Service coordination effectively impacted select caregiver and infant outcomes.