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Oh SS, Ali MM, Park J, Kang B, Park EC, Kawachi I. Punitive state policies targeting alcohol use during pregnancy and alcohol consumption among pregnant women. Sci Rep 2024; 14:22808. [PMID: 39354006 PMCID: PMC11445259 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-74283-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 09/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to determine whether punitive state alcohol policies targeting pregnant women who drink alcohol are associated with decreased alcohol consumption among pregnant women over time. This study used data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (15 states) between 1990 and 2015. A difference-in-difference (DiD) approach was employed to determine whether passage of state laws changed alcohol consumption rates among pregnant women, while controlling for state and time fixed effects. The study specifically examined punitive state alcohol policies that clarify the admissibility of evidence in child welfare proceedings related to prenatal alcohol exposure, focusing on allegations of child abuse, child neglect, child deprivation, or child dependence, as well as proceedings seeking termination of parental rights. Punitive state alcohol policies were not significantly associated with decreased rates of alcohol consumption among pregnant women (+ 1.54%, 95% CI, -1.47-4.55), within 3 years of implementation. State alcohol policies that adopted a punitive stance toward pregnant women who drink alcohol did not result in the reduction of drinking during pregnancy. Given that punitive policies may not effectively reduce alcohol consumption during pregnancy, our findings highlight the need for reevaluation and potential reform to better address maternal/child health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Soyeon Oh
- Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mir M Ali
- Department of Health Policy & Management, University of Maryland, College Park, USA
| | - Jewel Park
- Pediatrics Residency Program, Los Angeles General Medical Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bada Kang
- Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Nursing, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eun-Cheol Park
- Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ichiro Kawachi
- Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Bruzelius E, Underhill K, Askari MS, Kajeepeta S, Bates L, Prins SJ, Jarlenski M, Martins SS. Punitive legal responses to prenatal drug use in the United States: A survey of state policies and systematic review of their public health impacts. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2024; 126:104380. [PMID: 38484529 PMCID: PMC11056296 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Punitive legal responses to prenatal drug use may be associated with unintended adverse health consequences. However, in a rapidly shifting policy climate, current information has not been summarized. We conducted a survey of U.S. state policies that utilize criminal or civil legal system penalties to address prenatal drug use. We then systematically identified empirical studies evaluating these policies and summarized their potential public health impacts. METHODS Using existing databases and original statutory research, we surveyed current U.S. state-level prenatal drug use policies authorizing explicit criminalization, involuntary commitment, civil child abuse substantiation, and parental rights termination. Next, we systematically identified quantitative associations between these policies and health outcomes, restricting to U.S.-based peer-reviewed research, published January 2000-December 2022. Results described study characteristics and synthesized the evidence on health-related harms and benefits associated with punitive policies. Validity threats were described narratively. RESULTS By 2022, two states had adopted policies explicitly authorizing criminal prosecution, and five states allowed pregnancy-specific and drug use-related involuntary civil commitment. Prenatal drug use was grounds for substantiating civil child abuse and terminating parental rights in 22 and five states, respectively. Of the 16 review-identified articles, most evaluated associations between punitive policies generally (k = 12), or civil child abuse policies specifically (k = 2), and multiple outcomes, including drug treatment utilization (k = 6), maltreatment reporting and foster care entry (k = 5), neonatal drug withdrawal syndrome (NDWS, k = 4) and other pregnancy and birth-related outcomes (k = 3). Most included studies reported null associations or suggested increases in adverse outcome following punitive policy adoption. CONCLUSIONS Nearly half of U.S. states have adopted policies that respond to prenatal drug use with legal system penalties. While additional research is needed to clarify whether such approaches engender overt health harms, current evidence indicates that punitive policies are not associated with public health benefits, and therefore constitute ineffective policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Bruzelius
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th St. New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Kristen Underhill
- Cornell University Law School, 306 Myron Taylor Hall Ithaca, NY 14853-4901, USA
| | - Melanie S Askari
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th St. New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Sandhya Kajeepeta
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th St. New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Lisa Bates
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th St. New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Seth J Prins
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th St. New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Marian Jarlenski
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, A619 130 De Soto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Silvia S Martins
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th St. New York, NY 10032, USA
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Habersham L, George J, Townsel CD. Substance Use in Pregnancy and Its Impact on Communities of Color. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 2024; 51:193-210. [PMID: 38267128 DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Stigma toward pregnant and postpartum people who use drugs is common and seeks to define addiction as a moral weakness rather than a chronic medical illness that requires resources and treatment. More concerning is the additive impact of substance use and racial discrimination, whose intersections present particularly challenging circumstances. In this article, the authors review the history of substance use in the United States and focus on 3 substances of abuse that illustrate the inequity faced by pregnant person of color who use drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Habersham
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, 22 South Greene Street, Suite P6H310, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Joshua George
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Courtney D Townsel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore, 250 West Pratt Street, Suite 880, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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Binder A, Kilian C, Hanke S, Banabak M, Berkenhoff C, Petersen KU, Batra A. Stigma and self-stigma among women within the context of the german "zero alcohol during pregnancy" recommendation: A qualitative analysis of online forums and blogs. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2024; 124:104331. [PMID: 38241887 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In many countries, including Germany, it is recommended to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy to avoid harm to the baby. In this qualitative research study, analysis of online forums was conducted to explore women's perception of the German "zero alcohol during pregnancy" recommendation with regard to stigma and self-stigma. METHODS We used a grounded theory approach to analyze online forum discussions on alcohol use during pregnancy. Data consisted of 9 discussion threads from 5 different forums and blogs involving 115 participants in total. We used key concepts developed during analysis and the theory of stigma to interpret the posts. RESULTS We identified five key themes: (1) Low alcohol health literacy as a breeding ground for stigmatization; (2) The widespread assumption that maternal abstinence is a prerequisite for being considered a "good mother"; (3) Interpersonal role conflicts and a guilty conscience as a result of stigmatization or self-stigmatization; (4) Paying little attention to the role of psychosocial factors in alcohol consumption, especially regarding partner responsibility during pregnancy.; (5) Understanding the "zero alcohol during pregnancy" recommendation as a complete ban, associated with loss of autonomy. CONCLUSION The current method of communicating the "zero alcohol during pregnancy" recommendation may have unintended consequences. Specifically, misconceptions about the harm associated with low alcohol consumption and setting high expectations of motherhood are factors that can contribute to stigma or self-stigma and potentially undermine self-efficacy, help-seeking behavior, and overcoming the barriers to alcohol health literacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Binder
- University Hospital Tübingen; Department of General Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Addiction Medicine and Addiction Research Section, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; DZPG (German Center for Mental Health), partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Carolin Kilian
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sara Hanke
- University Hospital Tübingen; Department of General Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Addiction Medicine and Addiction Research Section, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Meryem Banabak
- University Hospital Tübingen; Department of General Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Addiction Medicine and Addiction Research Section, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Clara Berkenhoff
- University Hospital Tübingen; Department of General Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Addiction Medicine and Addiction Research Section, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kay Uwe Petersen
- University Hospital Tübingen; Department of General Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Addiction Medicine and Addiction Research Section, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anil Batra
- University Hospital Tübingen; Department of General Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Addiction Medicine and Addiction Research Section, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; DZPG (German Center for Mental Health), partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Goodman D. Self-fulfilling Prophecy: Does Structural and Interpersonal Bias Against Pregnant and Postpartum People With Substance Use Disorders Undermine Parenting Identity? J Addict Med 2024; 18:6-8. [PMID: 38315616 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Pregnant and parenting people with substance use disorders are a highly stigmatized group. Structural and interpersonal bias contribute to reluctance to engage in prenatal, postpartum, and well-child care for this population. Two studies described in this issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine explore the implications of health care provider-family relationships on experience of care for birthing people with substance use disorders and their infants. Patient voices describe how intensive monitoring of infants for sequelae of substance exposure and that being scrutinized as caregivers undermined their confidence as parents, contributed to self-blame, and damaged their trust in health care teams. Data from these studies suggest that the voices of pregnant and parenting individuals need to be present at local, regional, and national levels to mitigate harm when redesigning programs for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy Goodman
- From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, NH
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Berglas NF, Subbaraman MS, Thomas S, Roberts SCM. Pregnancy-specific alcohol policies and admissions to substance use disorder treatment for pregnant people in the USA. Alcohol Alcohol 2023; 58:645-652. [PMID: 37623929 PMCID: PMC10642603 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agad056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS We examined relationships between pregnancy-specific alcohol policies and admissions to substance use disorder treatment for pregnant people in the USA. METHODS We merged state-level policy and treatment admissions data for 1992-2019. We aggregated data by state-year to examine effects of nine pregnancy-specific alcohol policies on the number of admissions of pregnant women where alcohol was reported as the primary, secondary, or tertiary substance related to the treatment episode (N = 1331). We fit Poisson models that included all policy variables, state-level controls, fixed effects for state and year, state-specific time trends, and an offset variable of the number of pregnancies in the state-year to account for differences in population size and fertility. RESULTS When alcohol was reported as the primary substance, civil commitment [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.45, 95% CI: 1.10-1.89] and reporting requirements for assessment and treatment purposes [IRR 1.36, 95% CI: 1.04-1.77] were associated with greater treatment admissions. Findings for alcohol as primary, secondary, or tertiary substance were similar for civil commitment [IRR 1.31, 95% CI: 1.08-1.59] and reporting requirements for assessment and treatment purposes [IRR 1.21, 95% CI: 1.00-1.47], although mandatory warning signs [IRR 0.84, 95% CI: 0.72-0.98] and priority treatment for pregnant women [IRR 0.88, 95% CI: 0.78-0.99] were associated with fewer treatment admissions. Priority treatment findings were not robust in sensitivity analyses. No other policies were associated with treatment admissions. CONCLUSIONS Pregnancy-specific alcohol policies related to greater treatment admissions tend to mandate treatment rather than make voluntary treatment more accessible, raising questions of ethics and effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy F Berglas
- Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1330 Broadway, Suite 1100, Oakland, CA 94612, United States
| | | | - Sue Thomas
- Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, PO Box 7042, Santa Cruz, CA 96061, United States
| | - Sarah C M Roberts
- Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1330 Broadway, Suite 1100, Oakland, CA 94612, United States
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Board A, D’Angelo DV, von Essen BS, Denny CH, Miele K, Dunkley J, Park Y, Bauman B, Kim SY. The Postpartum Period: An Opportunity for Alcohol Screening and Counseling to Reduce Adverse Health Impacts. J Addict Med 2023; 17:528-535. [PMID: 37788605 PMCID: PMC10585373 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The postpartum period presents an opportunity to engage in discussions about alcohol consumption and related health harms. This study examined the prevalence of alcohol consumption among a sample of postpartum persons with a recent live birth and screening and brief intervention (alcohol SBI) or counseling by their providers. METHODS We analyzed 2019 data from a telephone survey conducted 9 to 10 months postpartum among individuals who responded to the standard Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System survey in 6 states. Weighted prevalence estimates were calculated for alcohol consumption and alcohol SBI after birth through up to 10 months postpartum. RESULTS Among 1790 respondents, 53.1% reported consuming alcohol postpartum. Among those who drank postpartum, 70.8% reported being asked about alcohol use by a healthcare provider. Slightly more than half of respondents who drank postpartum and were trying to get pregnant (52.4%) or were not using birth control at the time of the survey (59.8%) reported being asked about alcohol use. Approximately 25% of respondents who drank alcohol postpartum were advised about risky alcohol levels by a healthcare provider. Small proportions of individuals who drank alcohol postpartum and were pregnant or trying to get pregnant at the time of the survey were advised to reduce or stop drinking alcohol (10.6% and 2.3%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest missed opportunities to promote health and prevent adverse alcohol-related health outcomes during the postpartum period through evidence-based tools such as alcohol SBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Board
- Division of Birth Defects and Infant Disorders, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Denise V. D’Angelo
- Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Beatriz Salvesen von Essen
- Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
- CDC Foundation, Atlanta, GA
| | - Clark H. Denny
- Division of Birth Defects and Infant Disorders, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Kathryn Miele
- Division of Birth Defects and Infant Disorders, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Janae Dunkley
- Division of Birth Defects and Infant Disorders, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN
| | - Youngjoo Park
- Division of Birth Defects and Infant Disorders, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN
| | - Brenda Bauman
- Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Shin Y. Kim
- Division of Birth Defects and Infant Disorders, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
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Roberts SCM. Commentary on Luukkonen et al.: Policy possibilities for reducing public health harms related to pregnant people's alcohol consumption. Addiction 2023; 118:845-846. [PMID: 36843218 DOI: 10.1111/add.16164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C M Roberts
- Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA
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White SA, McCourt A, Bandara S, Goodman DJ, Patel E, McGinty EE. Implementation of State Laws Giving Pregnant People Priority Access to Drug Treatment Programs in the Context of Coexisting Punitive Laws. Womens Health Issues 2023; 33:117-125. [PMID: 36272928 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2022.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In response to increased prenatal drug use since the 2000s, states have adopted treatment-oriented laws giving pregnant and postpartum people priority access to public drug treatment programs as well as multiple punitive policy responses. No prior studies have systematically characterized these state statutes or examined implementation of state priority access laws in the context of co-existing punitive laws. METHODS We conducted legal mapping to examine state priority access laws and their overlap with state laws deeming prenatal drug use to be child maltreatment, mandating reporting of prenatal drug use to child protective services, or criminalizing prenatal drug use. We also conducted interviews with 51 state leaders with expertise on their states' prenatal drug use laws to understand how priority access laws were implemented. RESULTS Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have a priority access law, and more than 80% of these jurisdictions also have one of the punitive prenatal drug use laws described. Leaders reported major barriers to implementing state priority access laws, including the lack of drug treatment programs, stigma, and conflicts with punitive prenatal drug use laws. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that state laws granting pregnant and postpartum people priority access to drug treatment programs are likely insufficient to significantly increase access to evidence-based drug treatment. Punitive state prenatal drug use laws may counteract priority access laws by impeding treatment seeking. Findings highlight the need to allocate additional resources to drug treatment for pregnant and postpartum people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A White
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Baltimore, Maryland.
| | - Alexander McCourt
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Sachini Bandara
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Daisy J Goodman
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Esita Patel
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Emma E McGinty
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Baltimore, Maryland
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Jones HE. How does a clinician approach the pharmacological management of opioid use disorders in pregnant women and pregnant people? Expert Opin Pharmacother 2023; 24:401-405. [PMID: 36628440 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2023.2165909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hendrée E Jones
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UNC Horizons, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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