Treating pregnant women dependent on opioids is not the same as treating pregnancy and opioid dependence: a knowledge synthesis for better treatment for women and neonates

Chronic Opioid Treatment Arrests Neurodevelopment and Alters Synaptic Activity in Human Midbrain Organoids

Understanding the impact of long-term opioid exposure on the embryonic brain is critical due to the surging number of pregnant mothers with opioid dependency. However, this has been limited by human brain inaccessibility and cross-species differences in animal models. Here, a human midbrain model is established that uses hiPSC-derived midbrain organoids to assess cell-type-specific responses to acute and chronic fentanyl treatment and fentanyl withdrawal. Single-cell mRNA sequencing of 25,510 cells from organoids in different treatment groups reveals that chronic fentanyl treatment arrests neuronal subtype specification during early midbrain development and alters synaptic activity and neuron projection. In contrast, acute fentanyl treatment increases dopamine release but does not significantly alter gene expression related to cell lineage development. These results provide the first examination of the effects of opioid exposure on human midbrain development at the single-cell level.

Evaluation of three-year neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants prenatally exposed to substance use

INTRODUCTION

Prenatal exposure to substance use is associated with long-term deficits in the neurodevelopment of children. The objective was to investigate the association between cognitive, motor, and language neurodevelopment at three years of age in infants prenatally exposed to substance use.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective matched case-control study was conducted. Biomarkers of fetal exposure were measured in meconium samples. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) were used to calculate neurodevelopment scores.

RESULTS

32 non-exposed and 32 exposed infants were evaluated, of which 16 were exposed to cannabis, 8 to ethanol, 2 to cocaine and 6 to more than one substance. Normal BSID-III scores ≥85 in all domains, were detected in 23 exposed infants to any substance and 29 infants non-exposed. Neurodevelopmental delay was detected in the language domain, specifically in male infants exposed to cannabis. Two infants exposed to cannabis had a severe developmental delay (score<70). Infants exposed to any substance obtained significantly lower total scores than control infants in all domains. Infants exposed to cannabis obtained significantly lower composite scores in the cognitive and motor domains. Infants exposed to more than one substance had lower scores in motor skills. By gender, only males exposed obtained significantly lower composite scores than non-exposed males in the cognitive domain.

CONCLUSIONS

The most common and severe neurodevelopmental delay at 36 months was detected in the domain of language in male infants prenatally exposed to cannabis. Neurodevelopmental disorders detected can enable an early intervention and plan therapeutic strategies.

Lipophilic analogues of D-cysteine prevent and reverse physical dependence to fentanyl in male rats

We examined whether co-injections of the cell-permeant D-cysteine analogues, D-cysteine ethyl ester (D-CYSee) and D-cysteine ethyl amide (D-CYSea), prevent acquisition of physical dependence induced by twice-daily injections of fentanyl, and reverse acquired dependence to these injections in freely-moving male Sprague Dawley rats. Injection of the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone HCl (NLX, 1.5 mg/kg, IV), elicited a series of withdrawal phenomena that included cardiorespiratory and behavioral responses, and falls in body weight and body temperature, in rats that received 5 or 10 injections of fentanyl (125 μg/kg, IV), and the same number of vehicle co-injections. Regarding the development of physical dependence, the NLX-precipitated withdrawal phenomena were markedly reduced in fentanyl-injected rats that had received co-injections of D-CYSee (250 μmol/kg, IV) or D-CYSea (100 μmol/kg, IV), but not D-cysteine (250 μmol/kg, IV). Regarding reversal of established dependence to fentanyl, the NLX-precipitated withdrawal phenomena in rats that had received 10 injections of fentanyl (125 μg/kg, IV) was markedly reduced in rats that received co-injections of D-CYSee (250 μmol/kg, IV) or D-CYSea (100 μmol/kg, IV), but not D-cysteine (250 μmol/kg, IV), starting with injection 6 of fentanyl. This study provides evidence that co-injections of D-CYSee and D-CYSea prevent the acquisition of physical dependence, and reverse acquired dependence to fentanyl in male rats. The lack of effect of D-cysteine suggests that the enhanced cell-penetrability of D-CYSee and D-CYSea into cells, particularly within the brain, is key to their ability to interact with intracellular signaling events involved in acquisition to physical dependence to fentanyl.

Tobacco treatment incorporating contingency management, nicotine replacement therapy, and behavioral counseling for pregnant women who use substances: a feasibility trial

Introduction

Most pregnant women with substance use problems smoke, and few will quit during their pregnancy. Tobacco treatment is often overlooked, with the focus usually placed on other substance use. Additionally, few targeted effective treatments for this group exist. To address this, the feasibility of an intensive tobacco treatment incorporating contingency management (CM) that featured non-face-to-face delivery was examined.

Methods

A single-arm pre-post design feasibility trial was conducted in three antenatal services that support women who use substances in metropolitan Australia. Participants were over the age of 15, had <33-week gestation, and smoked tobacco daily. They received financial incentives for daily carbon monoxide-verified smoking abstinence or reduction through an internet-based CM programme, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) posted to women and partners or household members who smoked and telephone-delivered behavioral counseling from study enrolment to birth.

Results

Of the 101 referrals, 46 women (46%) consented. The mean (SD) age was 31(±6) years, and the gestation period was 22(±6) weeks. Nineteen (41%) of those enrolled were retained for 12-week postpartum. Of 46 women, 32 (70%) utilized CM; 32 (70%) used NRT for ≥2 weeks; 23 (50%) attended ≥1 counseling session; and 15 (22%) received NRT for partners/household members. Fifteen (33%) were verified abstinent from tobacco at delivery after a median (IQR) period of abstinence of 65(36-128) days. All non-smokers at birth utilized NRT and financial incentives, and 9/15 (60%) utilized counseling. Four (9%) were abstinent at 12-week postpartum. Median cigarettes smoked/day reduced from baseline to delivery (10(6-20) to 1(0-6) p =< 0.001). Women who quit smoking had more education (72% vs. 33% p =< 0.02), completed more CO samples (median (IQR) 101(59-157) vs. 2(0-20) p =< 0.001), and received more incentives (median (IQR) $909($225-$1980) vs. $34($3-$64) p =< 0.001). Intervention acceptability was rated favorably by participants (9 items rated 0-10 with scores >5 considered favorable).

Discussion

This study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of a consumer-informed, non-face-to-face intensive tobacco treatment, highlighting the potential of remotely delivered technology-based CM to reduce the health impact of tobacco smoking in high-priority populations. The intervention demonstrates scale-up potential. Future studies should extend treatment into the postpartum period, utilizing new technologies to enhance CM delivery and improve counseling provision and partner support.

Clinical trial registration

https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=374196, ACTRN1261800056224.

Parenting stress and competence among mothers of young children with substance use disorders: The roles of trauma and reflective functioning

Posttraumatic stress symptoms are prominent in the lives of parents of young children with substance use disorders (SUD). Parenting experiences, particularly stress and competence, impact parenting behaviors and concomitant child growth and development. Factors that promote positive experiences of parenting, such as parental reflective functioning (PRF), and protect the mother and child from negative outcomes are crucial to understand to develop effective therapeutic interventions. The current US study analyzed baseline data from a parenting intervention evaluation to examine how length of substance misuse, PRF, and trauma symptoms were associated with parenting stress and parenting sense of competence among mothers in treatment for SUDs. Measures included the Addiction Severity Index, PTSD Symptom Scale-Self Report, Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, Parenting Stress Index/Short Form, and Parenting Sense of Competence Scale. The sample included 54 predominantly White mothers with SUDs who had young children. Two multivariate regression analyses found that (1) lower parental reflective functioning and higher posttraumatic stress symptoms were associated with higher parenting stress, and (2) only higher posttraumatic stress symptoms were associated with lower levels of parenting sense of competence. Findings underscore the importance of addressing trauma symptoms and PRF when aiming to improve parenting experiences for women with an SUD.

Buprenorphine versus Methadone for Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Opioid agonist therapy is strongly recommended for pregnant persons with opioid use disorder. Buprenorphine may be associated with more favorable neonatal and maternal outcomes than methadone, but existing data are limited.

METHODS

We conducted a cohort study involving pregnant persons who were enrolled in public insurance programs in the United States during the period from 2000 through 2018 in which we examined outcomes among those who received buprenorphine as compared with those who received methadone. Exposure to the two medications was assessed in early pregnancy (through gestational week 19), late pregnancy (gestational week 20 through the day before delivery), and the 30 days before delivery. Risk ratios for neonatal and maternal outcomes were adjusted for confounders with the use of propensity-score overlap weights.

RESULTS

The data source for the study consisted of 2,548,372 pregnancies that ended in live births. In early pregnancy, 10,704 pregnant persons were exposed to buprenorphine and 4387 to methadone. In late pregnancy, 11,272 were exposed to buprenorphine and 5056 to methadone (9976 and 4597, respectively, in the 30 days before delivery). Neonatal abstinence syndrome occurred in 52.0% of the infants who were exposed to buprenorphine in the 30 days before delivery as compared with 69.2% of those exposed to methadone (adjusted relative risk, 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71 to 0.75). Preterm birth occurred in 14.4% of infants exposed to buprenorphine in early pregnancy and in 24.9% of those exposed to methadone (adjusted relative risk, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.62); small size for gestational age in 12.1% and 15.3%, respectively (adjusted relative risk, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.80); and low birth weight in 8.3% and 14.9% (adjusted relative risk, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.63). Delivery by cesarean section occurred in 33.6% of pregnant persons exposed to buprenorphine in early pregnancy and 33.1% of those exposed to methadone (adjusted relative risk, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.97 to 1.08), and severe maternal complications developed in 3.3% and 3.5%, respectively (adjusted relative risk, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.13). Results of exposure in late pregnancy were consistent with results of exposure in early pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of buprenorphine in pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of adverse neonatal outcomes than methadone use; however, the risk of adverse maternal outcomes was similar among persons who received buprenorphine and those who received methadone. (Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.).

Smoking cessation interventions for pregnant women attending treatment for substance use disorders: A systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Up to 95% of pregnant women seeking treatment for alcohol and other drug (AOD) use smoke tobacco. Previous reviews indicate few effective smoking cessation treatments for this group. This updated review aimed to identify and measure the efficacy of smoking cessation interventions trialled among pregnant women in AOD treatment settings who smoke tobacco.

METHODS

A narrative synthesis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Studies involving psychological, behavioural or pharmacological interventions used to treat tobacco use, including electronic nicotine delivery systems, for pregnant women of any age, who smoked tobacco and were seeking/receiving treatment, or in post-treatment recovery for AOD concerns, were reviewed. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE and ProQuest databases, grey literature and reference lists were searched, and field experts were contacted for unpublished study data. The Effective Public Health Practice Project tool assessed study quality. The review was pre-registered with PROSPERO no. CRD42018108777.

RESULTS

Seven interventions (two randomised controlled trials, two single-arm pilot studies, two program evaluations and one causal comparative study) treating 875 women were identified. All were United States (US)-based and targeted women with drug dependence, but not alcohol dependence. Three interventions used contingency management, five provided behavioural counselling, and one offered nicotine replacement therapy. All reported reductions in cigarette consumption; one contingency management-based study demonstrated higher abstinence rates compared with controls at treatment-end that were not maintained at follow-up. Four of six studies were rated as methodologically weak and one unpublished study was not rated.

CONCLUSIONS

Conclusions about the efficacy of smoking interventions for pregnant women with alcohol and other drug concerns who also smoke tobacco are hindered by the paucity of available data and poor methodological quality of included studies.

Morphine Perinatal Exposure Induces Long-Lasting Negative Emotional States in Adult Offspring Rodents

Psychoactive substances during pregnancy and lactation is a key problem in contemporary society, causing social, economic, and health disturbance. In 2010, about 30 million people used opioid analgesics for non-therapeutic purposes, and the prevalence of opioids use during pregnancy ranged from 1% to 21%, representing a public health problem. This study aimed to evaluate the long-lasting neurobehavioral and nociceptive consequences in adult offspring rats and mice exposed to morphine during intrauterine/lactation periods. Pregnant rats and mice were exposed subcutaneously to morphine (10 mg/kg/day) during 42 consecutive days (from the first day of pregnancy until the last day of lactation). Offspring were weighed on post-natal days (PND) 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 60, and behavioral tasks (experiment 1) or nociceptive responses (experiment 2) were assessed at 75 days of age (adult life). Morphine-exposed female rats displayed increased spontaneous locomotor activity. More importantly, both males and female rats perinatally exposed to morphine displayed anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors. Morphine-exposed mice presented alterations in the nociceptive responses on the writhing test. This study showed that sex difference plays a role in pain threshold and that deleterious effects of morphine during pre/perinatal periods are nonrepairable in adulthood, which highlights the long-lasting clinical consequences related to anxiety, depression, and nociceptive disorders in adulthood followed by intrauterine and lactation morphine exposure.

Non-pharmacologic interventions to improve depression and anxiety among pregnant and parenting women who use substances: An integrative literature review

Pregnant and parenting women who use substances report high rates of comorbid depression and anxiety. Due to the significant impact of this comorbidity on treatment adherence and maternal/child outcomes, effective psychosocial and behavioral interventions to address depression and anxiety in this population are necessary. A directed search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL databases produced 22 articles from 20 distinct studies examining non-pharmacologic interventions with an effect on depression and anxiety among pregnant or parenting women using substances. Of the 20 studies reviewed, 8 were randomized controlled trials, 7 were quasi-experimental studies, and 5 were cohort studies. Results revealed a wide array of interventions targeting intrapersonal, interpersonal, and/or structural factors within these women's lives. Parenting therapy and psychosocially enhanced treatment programs had the strongest evidence for positive treatment effect in improving symptoms of depression and anxiety. The use of contingency-management, case-managed care, patient or wellness navigators, mindfulness-based therapy, maternal-child relationship-focused therapy, family therapy, peer support, and therapeutic community-based interventions show promise but warrant further experimental exploration. Comprehensive and gender-specific residential treatment was observationally associated with improvements in depression and anxiety; however, the specific modality of efficacy is unclear. Future research should focus on identifying which modalities are most cost-effective, feasible, and acceptable among this uniquely vulnerable population.

Prenatal exposure to opioids: Associations between the caregiving environment and externalizing behaviors

Maternal opioid use during pregnancy is a rapidly growing public health crisis and is associated with a range of adverse developmental outcomes including externalizing behaviors among exposed children. Recent work has highlighted the role of indirect pathways from prenatal opioid exposure to behavioral outcomes through aspects of the caregiving environment, including parenting. This review highlights maternal sensitivity and related aspects of the caregiving environment that may impact the development of externalizing behaviors among children with a history of prenatal exposure to opioids. We conclude by providing suggestions for future directions in research examining development among children with prenatal opioid exposure.

Acute psychiatric illness and drug addiction during pregnancy and the puerperium

Pregnancy and the puerperium do not protect against acute psychiatric illness. During puerperium, the chance of acute psychiatric illness, such as a psychotic episode or relapse of bipolar disorder, is greatly increased. Suicide is a leading cause of maternal death. Both psychiatric disease and ongoing drug addiction impact not only the pregnant woman's somatic and mental health but also impact short-term and long-term health of the child. Indeed, prompt recognition and expeditious treatment of acute psychiatric illness during pregnancy and the puerperium optimize health outcomes for two patients. Pregnancy and puerperium represent a stage of life of great physiologic adaptations, as well as emotional and social changes. This conjunction of changes in somatic, emotional health and social health may mitigate the occurrence, clinical presentation, and clinical course of acute psychiatric illness and call for a multidisciplinary approach, taking into account both the medical and social domains. This chapter describes acute psychiatric illnesses during pregnancy and the puerperium and illicit substance abuse, from a clinical perspective, while also describing general principles of diagnosis and clinical management during this stage of life, which is an important window of opportunity for both the pregnant woman and the child.

"They're not doing enough.": women's experiences with opioids and naloxone in Toronto

BACKGROUND

Amid increasing opioid overdose deaths in Canada since 2010 and a changing naloxone access landscape, there is a need for up-to-date research on Canadian women's experiences with opioids. Studies on Canadian take-home naloxone programs are promising, but research beyond these programs is limited. Our study is the first to focus on women's experiences and perspectives on the opioid crisis in Ontario, Canada's most populous province, since the opioid crisis began in 2010.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to address research knowledge gaps involving Canadian women with criminal justice involvement who use opioids, and identify flaws in current policies, responses, and practices. While the opioid overdose crisis persists, this lack of research inhibits our ability to determine whether overdose prevention efforts, especially involving naloxone, are meeting their needs.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured, qualitative interviews from January to April 2018 with 10 women with experience of opioid use. They were recruited through the study's community partner in Toronto. Participants provided demographic information, experiences with opioids and naloxone, and their perceptions of the Canadian government's responses to the opioid crisis. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and inductive thematic analysis was conducted to determine major themes within the data.

RESULTS

Thematic analysis identified seven major concerns despite significant differences in participant life and opioid use experiences. Participants who had used illicit opioids since naloxone became available over-the-counter in 2016 were much more knowledgeable about naloxone than participants who had only used opioids prior to 2016. The portability, dosage form, and effects of naloxone are important considerations for women who use opioids. Social alienation, violence, and isolation affect the wellbeing of women who use opioids. The Canadian government's response to the opioid crisis was perceived as inadequate. Participants demonstrated differing needs and views on ideal harm reduction approaches, despite facing similar structural issues surrounding stigma, addiction management, and housing.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants experienced with naloxone use found it to be useful in preventing fatal overdose, however many of their needs with regards to physical, mental, and social health, housing, harm reduction, and access to opioid treatment remained unmet.

Identifying Self-Management Support Needs for Pregnant Women With Opioid Misuse in Online Health Communities: Mixed Methods Analysis of Web Posts

Background

The current opioid crisis in the United States impacts broad population groups, including pregnant women. Opioid use during pregnancy can affect the health and wellness of both mothers and their infants. Understanding women’s efforts to self-manage opioid use or misuse in pregnancy is needed to identify intervention points for improving maternal outcomes.

Objective

This study aims to identify the characteristics of women in an online health community (OHC) with opioid use or misuse during pregnancy and the self-management support needs of these mothers.

Methods

A total of 200 web posts by pregnant women with opioid use participating in an OHC were double coded. Concepts and their thematic connections were identified through an inductive process until theoretical saturation was reached. Statistical tests were performed to identify patterns.

Results

The majority of pregnant women (150/200, 75.0%) in the OHC exhibited signs of misuse, and 62.5% (125/200) of the participants were either contemplating or pursuing dosage reduction. Self-managed withdrawal was more common (P<.001) than professional treatment among the population. A total of 5 themes of self-management support needs were identified as women sought information about the potential adverse effects of gestational opioid use, protocols for self-managed withdrawal, pain management safety during pregnancy, hospital policies and legal procedures related to child protection, and strategies for navigating offline support systems. In addition, 58.5% (117/200) of the pregnant women expressed negative emotions, of whom only 10.2% (12/117) sought to address their emotional needs with the help of the OHC.

Conclusions

OHCs provide vital self-management support for pregnant women with opioid use or misuse. Women pursuing self-managed dosage reduction are prone to misinformation and repeated relapses, which can result in extreme measures to avoid testing positive for drug use at labor. The study findings provide evidence for public policy considerations, including universal screening of substance use for pregnant women, emphasis on treatment rather than legal punishment, and further expansion of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act waiver training program. The improvement of web-based platforms that can organize geo-relevant information, dispense clinically validated withdrawal schedules, and offer structured peer support is envisioned for harm reduction among pregnant women who opt for self-management of opioid misuse.

Factors associated with opioid prescriptions among women proximal to pregnancy in the United States

BACKGROUND

Pregnant women are a vulnerable population exposed to opioids in the United States.

OBJECTIVE

To examine trends and factors associated with opioid prescribing to women proximal to pregnancy.

METHODS

The 2011 to 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) was used to identify participants (n = 3020) with self-reported pregnancy or pregnancy-relevant events aged between 18 and 44 years old. To investigate factors associated with opioid prescriptions, we categorized participants into two subgroups: having one or more opioid prescription or having none during the observational period. We used survey multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with opioid prescribing accounting for the complex survey design in MEPS.

RESULTS

From 2011 to 2015, the prevalence of opioid prescribing among study participants was 31%. Opioids were more likely to be prescribed to women who had psychiatric conditions (odds ratio, 1,76, 95%CI: 1.27-2.44, p < 0.001). Other significant factors included being non-Hispanic white or black, living in the South, active tobacco users, and those with lower Physical Component Summary Scores.

CONCLUSION

Receipt of an opioid prescription in the perinatal period is associated with maternal psychiatric disorders in the United States. Study findings add new data to the literature on opioid use among pregnant women and provide evidence for healthcare providers and policy makers to tailor treatment and educational programs to avoid opioid overuse among pregnant women.

Maintenance agonist treatments for opiate-dependent pregnant women

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of opiate use among pregnant women can range from 1% to 2% to as high as 21%. Just in the United States alone, among pregnant women with hospital delivery, a fourfold increase in opioid use is reported from 1999 to 2014 (Haight 2018). Heroin crosses the placenta, and pregnant, opiate-dependent women experience a six-fold increase in maternal obstetric complications such as low birth weight, toxaemia, third trimester bleeding, malpresentation, puerperal morbidity, fetal distress and meconium aspiration. Neonatal complications include narcotic withdrawal, postnatal growth deficiency, microcephaly, neuro-behavioural problems, increased neonatal mortality and a 74-fold increase in sudden infant death syndrome. This is an updated version of the original Cochrane Review first published in 2008 and last updated in 2013.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of any maintenance treatment alone or in combination with a psychosocial intervention compared to no intervention, other pharmacological intervention or psychosocial interventions alone for child health status, neonatal mortality, retaining pregnant women in treatment, and reducing the use of substances.

SEARCH METHODS

We updated our searches of the following databases to February 2020: the Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science. We also searched two trials registers and checked the reference lists of included studies for further references to relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials which assessed the efficacy of any pharmacological maintenance treatment for opiate-dependent pregnant women.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane.

MAIN RESULTS

We found four trials with 271 pregnant women. Three compared methadone with buprenorphine and one methadone with oral slow-release morphine. Three out of four studies had adequate allocation concealment and were double-blind. The major flaw in the included studies was attrition bias: three out of four had a high dropout rate (30% to 40%), and this was unbalanced between groups. Methadone versus buprenorphine: There was probably no evidence of a difference in the dropout rate from treatment (risk ratio (RR) 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37 to 1.20, three studies, 223 participants, moderate-quality evidence). There may be no evidence of a difference in the use of primary substances between methadone and buprenorphine (RR 1.81, 95% CI 0.70 to 4.68, two studies, 151 participants, low-quality evidence). Birth weight may be higher in the buprenorphine group in the two trials that reported data MD;-530.00 g, 95%CI -662.78 to -397.22 (one study, 19 particpants) and MD: -215.00 g, 95%CI -238.93 to -191.07 (one study, 131 participants) although the results could not be pooled due to very high heterogeneity (very low-quality of evidence). The third study reported that there was no evidence of a difference. We found there may be no evidence of a difference in the APGAR score (MD: 0.00, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.03, two studies,163 participants, low-quality evidence). Many measures were used in the studies to assess neonatal abstinence syndrome. The number of newborns treated for neonatal abstinence syndrome, which is the most critical outcome, may not differ between groups (RR 1.19, 95% CI 0.87 to1.63, three studies, 166 participants, low-quality evidence). Only one study which compared methadone with buprenorphine reported side effects. We found there may be no evidence of a difference in the number of mothers with serious adverse events (AEs) (RR 1.69, 95% CI 0.75 to 3.83, 175 participants, low-quality evidence) and we found there may be no difference in the numbers of newborns with serious AEs (RR 4.77, 95% CI 0.59, 38.49,131 participants, low-quality evidence). Methadone versus slow-release morphine: There were no dropouts in either treatment group. Oral slow-release morphine may be superior to methadone for abstinence from heroin use during pregnancy (RR 2.40, 95% CI 1.00 to 5.77, one study, 48 participants, low-quality evidence). In the comparison between methadone and slow-release morphine, no side effects were reported for the mother. In contrast, one child in the methadone group had central apnoea, and one child in the morphine group had obstructive apnoea (low-quality evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Methadone and buprenorphine may be similar in efficacy and safety for the treatment of opioid-dependent pregnant women and their babies. There is not enough evidence to make conclusions for the comparison between methadone and slow-release morphine. Overall, the body of evidence is too small to make firm conclusions about the equivalence of the treatments compared. There is still a need for randomised controlled trials of adequate sample size comparing different maintenance treatments.

Obstetrician-gynecologists' practices and attitudes on substance use screening during pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

To describe obstetrician-gynecologists' practices and attitudes related to substance use screening in pregnant patients.

STUDY DESIGN

A 2017 cross-sectional survey assessed US obstetrician-gynecologists' (n = 462; response rate = 34%) practices (substance use screening frequency and methods) and attitudes (practice priority of screening, confidence in treating, and responsibility statements). Chi-squared tests and adjusted modified Poisson regression were used to estimate associations between practices and attitudes.

RESULTS

Of 353 respondents with screening information, 79% frequently screen for substance use and 11% used a validated instrument. Confidence was the highest for treating pregnant patients using tobacco (81%). Respondents whose practices make it a high priority to screen for all substances were 1.2 times as likely to frequently screen as their counterparts (95% CI: 1.1-1.3).

CONCLUSIONS

Four out of five obstetricians-gynecologists reported a high frequency of substance use screening in pregnant patients. Findings highlight the importance of increasing priority of substance use screening by obstetrician-gynecologists.

The Incentives to Quit tobacco in Pregnancy (IQuiP) protocol: piloting a financial incentive-based smoking treatment for women attending substance use in pregnancy antenatal services

INTRODUCTION

While tobacco smoking prevalence is falling in many western societies, it remains elevated among high-priority cohorts. Rates up to 95% have been reported in women whose pregnancy is complicated by other substance use. In this group, the potential for poor pregnancy outcomes and adverse physical and neurobiological fetal development are elevated by tobacco smoking. Unfortunately, few targeted and effective tobacco dependence treatments exist to assist cessation in this population. The study will trial an evidence-based, multicomponent tobacco smoking treatment tailored to pregnant women who use other substances. The intervention comprises financial incentives for biochemically verified abstinence, psychotherapy delivered by drug and alcohol counsellors, and nicotine replacement therapy. It will be piloted at three government-based, primary healthcare facilities in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, Australia. The study will assess the feasibility and acceptability of the treatment when integrated into routine antenatal care offered by substance use in pregnancy antenatal services.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The study will use a single-arm design with pre-post comparisons. One hundred clients will be recruited from antenatal clinics with a substance use in pregnancy service. Women must be <33 weeks' gestation, ≥16 years old and a current tobacco smoker. The primary outcomes are feasibility, assessed by recruitment and retention and the acceptability of addressing smoking among this population. Secondary outcomes include changes in smoking behaviours, the comparison of adverse maternal outcomes and neonatal characteristics to those of a historical control group, and a cost-consequence analysis of the intervention implementation.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Protocol approval was granted by Hunter New England Human Research Ethics Committee (Reference 17/04/12/4.05), with additional ethical approval sought from the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW (Reference 1249/17). Findings will be disseminated via academic conferences, peer-reviewed publications and social media.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (Ref: ACTRN12618000576224).

Prenatal exposure to opioid maintenance treatment and neonatal outcomes: Nationwide registry studies from the Czech Republic and Norway

There is lack of knowledge about the safety of treatment with methadone and buprenorphine as part of opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) during pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to examine neonatal outcomes concerning the use of OMT during pregnancy. We used nationwide registry linkages from the Czech Republic (2000-2014) and Norway (2004-2013). We compared prenatally OMT-exposed newborns with (a) newborns of women hospitalized with opioid use disorder during pregnancy in the Czech sample and (b) newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in Norway. We performed multivariate linear and binary logistic regression exploring the associations between OMT and neonatal outcomes (growth parameters, gestational age, fetal death, small for gestational age, Apgar score, and NAS). Regression coefficients (b) and odds ratios (ORs) were estimated. The cohorts consisted of 333 Czech, and 235 Norwegian OMT-exposed newborns, and 106 and 294 newborns in the comparison groups, respectively. In both countries, the neonatal growth parameters were similar in the OMT and the comparison groups. In Norway, OMT exposure prolonged gestational age (adjusted b = 0.96 weeks, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.39-1.53) while the odds of preterm birth and Apgar score at 5 minutes were lower than in the comparison group (adjusted OR = 0.35, 0.16-0.75 and aOR = 0.21, 0.06-0.78, respectively). Newborns of women in OMT had similar growth parameters as newborns of women with opioid use disorders who were not in OMT during pregnancy. Overall, our findings do not suggest that OMT results in worse neonatal outcomes.

Implementation of a Mindfulness Intervention for Women in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder and Its Effects on Depression Symptoms

Background: Many women in treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) also experience mental health co-morbidities. Mindfulness intervention has demonstrated effectiveness for improving mental health in the general population, but has not been tested with female populations in OUD treatment. The purpose of this study was to describe characteristics associated with participation in a mindfulness intervention provided to women in treatment for OUD, and also to evaluate the effectiveness of a mindfulness intervention on depression symptoms. Aims: To evaluate participation characteristics associated with a mindfulness intervention and to assess the impact of a mindfulness intervention on depression symptoms for women with OUD. Methods: A secondary data analysis of a mindfulness intervention with women in treatment for OUD was accomplished. Bivariate analysis was conducted to determine any sociodemographic variables associated with intervention participation. Depression scores were assessed pre and post intervention using paired samples t tests for the intervention group (n = 65) and the control group (n = 8). Results: A 45% of women in the study reported moderate to severe depression symptoms at baseline, and 63% reported high levels of childhood trauma. There was a significant decrease in depression scores (M = 3.6 [1.2,6.1]) following the mindfulness intervention for the intervention group (t(64) = 3.1, p = .003). Participants entering the intervention group with moderate to severe depression scores experienced the most significant decrease in depression symptoms (M = 6.6, SD = 13.5), (t(64) = -2.1, p < .05). Conclusions: Women in treatment for OUD experience high levels of depression symptoms and past trauma, and mindfulness is a feasible intervention for OUD populations which may improve depression symptoms.

Cognitive and Motor Outcomes of Children With Prenatal Opioid Exposure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

IMPORTANCE

Prenatal opioid exposure (POE) is one of the fastest-growing global health problems, but its association with long-term neurologic and physical development remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between POE and cognitive and motor development in children from age 6 months to 18 years.

DATA SOURCES

Key search terms included prenatal opioid exposure, neonatal abstinence syndrome, and neurocognitive development. Studies were searched using PubMed and Embase, with no publication date restriction, through August 20, 2018.

STUDY SELECTION

Only published cohort studies comparing the results of age-appropriate standardized cognitive and/or motor tests between children with any POE (aged 0-18 years) with drug-free controls were included. Data that were not convertible to means and SDs were excluded.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

This study was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. Data were pooled using a random-effects model.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Standardized mean difference of cognitive and motor tests between POE and nonexposed children.

RESULTS

Twenty-six peer-reviewed cohort studies were included. Cognitive outcomes were compared for a total of 1455 children with POE and 2982 nonexposed children across 3 age groups (mean [SE] age at cognitive testing was 13 [1.58] months for the toddler group; 4.5 [0.38] years for the preschool group; and 13 [2.36] years for the school-aged group). Motor outcomes were compared for 688 children with POE and 1500 nonexposed children up to age 6 years (mean [SD] age at motor testing, 2 [0.45] years). Standardized mean difference was lower in cognitive tests for children with POE at 0 to 2 years (d = -0.52; 95% CI, -0.74 to -0.31; P < .001) and 3 to 6 years (d = -0.38; 95% CI, -0.69 to -0.07; P < .001); the difference was not significant for those aged 7 to 18 years (d = -0.44; 95% CI, -1.16 to 0.28; P = .23). Motor scores were lower in children with POE (d = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.23-0.74; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Prenatal opioid exposure appeared to be negatively associated with neurocognitive and physical development from age 6 months, and this association persisted until adolescence. The cause and association of this with POE or other factors (eg, withdrawal treatment) are uncertain but suggest that POE necessitates long-term support and intervention.

Mothers and Mentors: Exploring Perinatal Addiction and Recovery Through Digital Storytelling

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a growing problem for pregnant and parenting women. Woman-to-woman peer support may positively influence perinatal outcomes but little is known about the impact of such support on the women who are providing support. The purpose of this study was to describe experiences of addiction in pregnancy, recovery, and subsequently serving as a peer mentor to other pregnant women with active SUD among women in recovery in a rural setting. We conducted one digital storytelling workshop with five women serving as peer mentors with lived experience of perinatal SUD. The mentors faced significant stigma in pregnancy. They had each done the "inside work" to achieve recovery, and maintained recovery by staying balanced. Peer mentoring supported their own recovery, and story sharing was integral to this process. Peer-led support models may be an effective, self-sustaining method of providing pregnancy-specific peer support for SUD.

Pregnant women with opioid use disorder and their infants in three state Medicaid programs in 2013-2016

BACKGROUND

Maternal opioid use disorder (OUD) has serious consequences for maternal and infant health. Analysis of Medicaid enrollee data is critical, since Medicaid bears a disproportionate share of costs.

METHODS

This study analyzes linked maternal and infant Medicaid claims data and infant birth records in three states in the year before and after a delivery in 2014-2015 (2013-2016) examining health, health care use, treatment, and neonatal outcomes. Diagnosis and procedure codes identify OUD and other substance use disorders (SUDs).

RESULTS

In the year before and after delivery, 2.2 percent of the sample had an OUD diagnosis, and 5.9 percent had a SUD diagnosis other than OUD. Of the women with OUD, 72.8% had treatment for a SUD in the year before and after delivery, but most had none in an average enrolled month, and only 8.8% received any methadone treatment in a given month. Pregnant women with OUD had delayed and lower rates of prenatal care compared to women with other substance use disorders (SUDs). Infants of mothers with OUD did not differ from infants of mothers with other SUDs in rate of preterm or low birth weight but had higher NICU admission rates and longer birth hospitalizations. Health care costs for women with an OUD were higher than those with other SUDs.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an urgent need for comprehensive, evidence-based OUD treatment integrated with maternity care. To fill critical gaps in care, workforce and infrastructure innovations can facilitate delivery of preventive and treatment services coordinated across settings.

Perceptions of Pregnancy and Contraceptive Use: An In-Depth Study of Women in Los Angeles Methadone Clinics

INTRODUCTION

In 2016, 2.1 million people in the United States were estimated to have an opioid use disorder. Although the disorder can be safely and effectively treated with prescription methadone, treatment is potentially long term and may span women's peak childbearing ages. Little is known about women's reproductive health needs while on methadone.

METHODS

We interviewed 22 sexually active, nonpregnant women ages 21-39 years at two Los Angeles methadone clinics in 2016. The interviews were transcribed and coded by four researchers using thematic and open coding techniques.

RESULTS

One-half of the women were nulliparous and 17 were in stable, monogamous relationships with men. Women reported a range of feelings and perceptions about pregnancy, but nearly all wanted to delay pregnancy until discontinuing methadone. However, many women indicated limited interest in preventing pregnancy because of the relative stability of their relationships, fear of infertility, and low perceived risk of pregnancy. These factors influenced contraceptive use.

DISCUSSION

Women described mixed feelings about pregnancy and many ultimately felt that an unplanned pregnancy would be acceptable in the context of their relationships and uncertain fertility. These findings provide context for previous quantitative findings that women in methadone treatment have higher rates of unintended pregnancy and lower rates of contraceptive use than the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

Accurate information about pregnancy in the context of methadone treatment may help women to make proactive family planning decisions. Health care providers should discuss the guidelines for pregnancy on methadone and offer a range of options to help women achieve their reproductive goals.

Determining the Initiation of Opiate Misuse Resulting in Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnant Women

The aim of this study was to explore the "opiate misuse footprint" made by obstetrics and gynecology physicians in prescribing opioid medications for postpartum pain control that led to opioid misuse and opioid use disorder. Data were collected using intake information and anonymous surveys administered to pregnant women at local methadone clinics in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2016-2017. Results from this study revealed that 40% of the 33 participants stated that the first drug they became addicted to was prescription opioids; 71% stated that the first opiate they became addicted to was a prescription pain medication. Prescription opioids were mainly obtained from emergency medicine physicians and friends. Reported use of opioids within the past four months was high, with the most commonly used drugs being methadone (57.6%) and heroin (42.4%). A majority of participants also endorsed a history of sexual and physical abuse, recent incarceration, and mental health disorders. As a large number of pregnant women with opioid use disorder reported their initial drug of misuse as prescription pain medications, it is important to avoid overprescribing opioids in reproductive-age women.

Substance use in pregnancy: The medical challenge

Substance use contributes significantly to the global burden of disease. Growing numbers of women use nicotine, alcohol, and illicit substances. Women are the most vulnerable to problematic substance use in their reproductive years. The first 1000 days of life, starting at conception, have been established as a critical window of time for long-term health and development. Substance use in pregnancy is associated with negative pregnancy and child health outcomes. The impact of antenatal substance use on these outcomes needs to be considered within a challenging and complex context. This review provides an overview of the current literature on the impact of substances on pregnancy and child outcomes as well as the evidence and guidelines on screening and interventions for women using substances during pregnancy.

Prisoners as Patients: The Opioid Epidemic, Medication-Assisted Treatment, and the Eighth Amendment

This article argues that correctional institutions violate the Eighth Amendment when they refuse to establish MAT programs and prevent doctors from exercising medical judgment to properly treat incarcerated people with OUD.

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Trend and Expenditure in Louisiana Medicaid, 2003-2013

Objectives Determine trends in incidence and expenditure for perinatal drug exposure and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) among Louisiana's Medicaid population. We also describe the maternal characteristics of NAS affected infants. Methods Retrospective cohort analysis using linked Medicaid and vital records data from 2003 to 2013. Conducted incidence and cost trends for drug exposed infants with and without NAS. Also performed comparison statistics among drug exposed infants with and without NAS and those not drug exposed. Results As rate of perinatal drug exposure increased, NAS rate per 1000 live Medicaid births also increased, from 2.1 (2003) to 3.6 (2007) to 8.0 (2013) (P for trend <0.0001). Total medical cost paid by Medicaid also increased from $1.3 million to $3.6 million to $8.7 million (P for trend <0.0001). Compared with drug exposed infants without NAS and those not drug exposed, infants with NAS were more likely to be white, have feeding difficulties, respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and seizures, all of which had an association at P < 0.0001. Over one-third (33.2%) of the mothers of infants with NAS had an opioid dependency in combination with a mental illness; with depression being most common. Conclusions for Practice Over an 11-year period, NAS rate among Louisiana's Medicaid infants quadrupled and the cost for caring for the affected infants increased six-fold. Medicaid, as the predominant payer for pregnant women and children affected by substance use disorders, must play a more active role in expanding access to comprehensive substance abuse treatment programs.

Care Experiences of Women Who Used Opioids and Experienced Fetal or Infant Loss

OBJECTIVE

To explore care experiences of women who used prescription or illicit opioids and experienced fetal or infant loss.

DESIGN

A qualitative, descriptive design with secondary data analysis.

SETTING

The Fetal and Infant Mortality Review program in an urban Midwestern county in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Eleven women with histories of prescription or illicit opioid use who experienced fetal or infant loss participated in the semistructured telephone or in-person interview portion of the mortality case review.

METHODS

We used thematic analysis to analyze interview data.

RESULTS

Five themes were identified related to the care experiences of participants throughout pregnancy and fetal/infant loss: Frustration and anger related to not being heard, feeling minimalized; Being overwhelmed with attempts to process and understand medical complications and outcomes; Profound sense of grief and coping with loss; Need to understand why and make difficult decisions; and Placing blame and guilt over death.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that women who use opioids and experience fetal or infant loss have complex care, educational, and emotional needs. In the development of interventions for these women, it is important to address their unique and complex circumstances.

Opioid Use in Pregnancy, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, and Childhood Outcomes: Executive Summary of a Joint Workshop by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Academy of Pediatrics, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the March of Dimes Foundation

In April 2016, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development invited experts to a workshop to address numerous knowledge gaps and to review the evidence for the screening and management of opioid use in pregnancy and neonatal abstinence syndrome. The rising prevalence of opioid use in pregnancy has led to a concomitant dramatic fivefold increase in neonatal abstinence syndrome over the past decade. Experts from diverse disciplines addressed research gaps in the following areas: 1) optimal screening for opioid use in pregnancy; 2) complications of pregnancy associated with opioid use; 3) appropriate treatments for pregnant women with opioid use disorders; 4) the best approaches for detecting, treating, and managing newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome; and 5) the long-term effects of prenatal opioid exposure on children. Workshop participants identified key scientific opportunities to advance the understanding of opioid use disorders in pregnancy and to improve outcomes for affected women, their children, and their families. This article provides a summary of the workshop presentations and discussions.

Buprenorphine compared with methadone to treat pregnant women with opioid use disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of safety in the mother, fetus and child

AIMS

To assess the safety of buprenorphine compared with methadone to treat pregnant women with opioid use disorder.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library from inception to February 2015 for randomized controlled trials (RCT) and observational cohort studies (OBS) that compared buprenorphine with methadone for treating opioid-dependent pregnant women. Two reviewers assessed independently the titles and abstracts of all search results and full texts of potentially eligible studies reporting original data for maternal/fetal/infant death, preterm birth, fetal growth outcomes, fetal/congenital anomalies, fetal/child neurodevelopment and/or maternal adverse events. We ascertained each study's risk of bias using validated instruments and assessed the strength of evidence for each outcome using established methods. We computed effect sizes using random-effects models for each outcome with two or more studies.

RESULTS

Three RCTs (n = 223) and 15 cohort OBSs (n = 1923) met inclusion criteria. In meta-analyses using unadjusted data and methadone as comparator, buprenorphine was associated with lower risk of preterm birth [RCT risk ratio (RR) = 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.18, 0.91; OBS RR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.50, 0.90], greater birth weight [RCT weighted mean difference (WMD) = 277 g, 95% CI = 104, 450; OBS WMD = 265 g, 95% CI = 196, 335] and larger head circumference [RCT WMD = 0.90 cm, 95% CI = 0.14, 1.66; OBS WMD = 0.68 cm, 95% CI = 0.41, 0.94]. No treatment differences were observed for spontaneous fetal death, fetal/congenital anomalies and other fetal growth measures, although the power to detect such differences may be inadequate due to small sample sizes.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderately strong evidence indicates lower risk of preterm birth, greater birth weight and larger head circumference with buprenorphine treatment of maternal opioid use disorder during pregnancy compared with methadone treatment, and no greater harms.

Observational study of the safety of buprenorphine+naloxone in pregnancy in a rural and remote population

OBJECTIVES

To describe the effect of in utero exposure to the buprenorphine+naloxone combination product in a rural and remote population.

SETTING

A district hospital that services rural and remote, fly-in communities in Northwestern Ontario, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of 855 mother infant dyads between 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2015. Cases included all women who had exposure to buprenorphine+naloxone during pregnancy (n=62). 2 control groups were identified; the first included women with no opioid exposure in pregnancy (n=618) and the second included women with opioid exposure other than buprenorphine+naloxone (n=159). Women were excluded if they had multiple pregnancy or if they were part of a methadone programme (n=16). The majority of women came from Indigenous communities.

OUTCOMES

The primary outcomes were birth weight, preterm delivery, congenital anomalies and stillbirth. Secondary neonatal outcomes included gestational age at delivery, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min, NAS Score >7 and treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Secondary maternal outcomes included the number of caesarean sections, postpartum haemorrhages, out of hospital deliveries and transfer of care to tertiary centres.

RESULTS

No difference was found in the primary outcomes or in the Apgar score and caesarean section rate between in utero buprenorphine+naloxone exposure versus no opioid exposure in pregnancy. Compared to women taking other opioids, women taking buprenorphine+naloxone had higher birthweight babies (p=0.001) and less exposure to marijuana (p<0.001) during pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Retrospective data suggest that there likely is no harm from taking buprenorphine+naloxone opioid agonist treatment in pregnancy. Larger, prospective studies are needed to further assess safety.

Evaluation of the vaginal flora in pregnant women receiving opioid maintenance therapy: a matched case-control study

Background

Vaginal infections are a risk factor for preterm delivery. In this study, we sought to evaluate the vaginal flora of pregnant women receiving opioid maintenance therapy (OMT) in comparison to non-dependent, non-maintained controls.

Methods

A total of 3763 women with singleton pregnancies who underwent routine screening for asymptomatic vaginal infections between 10 + 0 and 16 + 0 gestational weeks were examined. Vaginal smears were Gram-stained, and microscopically evaluated for bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. In a retrospective manner, data of 132 women receiving OMT (cases) were matched for age, ethnicity, parity, education, previous preterm delivery, and smoking status to the data of 3631 controls. The vaginal flora at antenatal screening served as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures were gestational age and birth weight.

Results

In the OMT group, 62/132 (47 %) pregnant women received methadone, 39/132 (29.5 %) buprenorphine, and 31/132 (23.5 %) slow-release oral morphine. Normal or intermediate flora was found in 72/132 OMT women (54.5 %) and 2865/3631 controls [78.9 %; OR 0.49 (95 % CI, 0.33–0.71); p < 0.001]. Candidiasis occurred more frequently in OMT women than in controls [OR 2.11 (95 % CI, 1.26–3.27); p < 0.001]. Findings were inconclusive regarding bacterial vaginosis (± candidiasis) and trichomoniasis. Compared to infants of the control group, those of women with OMT had a lower mean birth weight [MD −165.3 g (95 % CI, −283.6 to −46.9); p = 0.006].

Conclusions

Pregnant women with OMT are at risk for asymptomatic vaginal infections. As recurrent candidiasis is associated with preterm delivery, the vulnerability of this patient population should lead to consequent antenatal infection screening at early gestation.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12884-016-1003-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

CE: Appropriate Use of Opioids in Managing Chronic Pain

: Over the past two decades, the use of opioids to manage chronic pain has increased substantially, primarily in response to the recognized functional, emotional, and financial burden associated with chronic pain. Within this same period, unintentional death related to prescription opioids has been identified as a public health crisis, owing in part to such factors as insufficient professional training and medication overprescription, misuse, and diversion. The authors discuss current best practices for prescribing opioids for chronic pain, emphasizing patient assessment and essential patient teaching points regarding safe medication use, storage, and disposal.

Opioid use disorder during pregnancy in Tennessee: expediency vs. science

Methadone and buprenorphine are highly effective and commonly prescribed for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Both medications are also efficacious for the treatment of pregnant women with this disorder. In one third of states, however, Medicaid reimbursement will cover the cost of buprenorphine, but not methadone, to treat opioid use disorder in pregnant women. This commentary will explore the clinical and policy rational and consequences of this policy, with the opinion that this approach is guided by political expediency rather than sound clinical research. The commentary will focus on the pharmacological management of prescription opioid dependence during pregnancy in Tennessee, one of the states that restrict Medicaid coverage of pregnant women to buprenorphine. Tennessee is also relevant in that this state ranks second nationally in the rate of prescriptions written for opioid pain relievers; in contrast to injection opioid use in urban populations, opioid addiction in rural and southeastern regions of the US is characterized by use of non-injection prescription opioids. Until recently, most research-based recommendations for the management of opioid use disorder during pregnancy have derived from studies of women using opioids intravenously. The lack of research in non-injection opioid-using pregnant women may partially explain why policy rather than scientific evidence guides Medicaid reimbursement. It is hoped that future research in pregnant women addicted to prescription opioids will clarify which opioid addicted pregnant women have better outcomes with buprenorphine or methadone treatment and these findings, in turn, will inform Medicaid reimbursement.

Monitoring neonatal abstinence syndrome in buprenorphine-exposed in vitro fertilization twins: A case study

BACKGROUND

Prior studies have reported on the pregnancies and outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in special subpopulations; however, there is a lack of studies on opioid-exposed IVF-conceived neonates.

CASE PRESENTATION

A young adult IVF-pregnant woman was maintained on buprenorphine throughout pregnancy and received follow-up from the addiction clinic from estimated gestational week 32. She delivered healthy dichorionic twins via cesarean section at 38 weeks gestational age (buprenorphine dose at time of delivery: 16 mg). All maternal supervised urinalysis taken as of gestational week 32 were negative for concomitant substances (prior to treatment initiation at the addiction clinic, only self-reports of abstinence from concomitant substances were available). Both healthy children (male birth weight: 3140 g, female birth weight: 2650 g) developed an unusual course of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) requiring extensive treatment (total morphine dose male: 22 mg, and female: 26.75 mg; length of treatment: 33 and 34 days, respectively; duration of hospitalization: 40 days).

DISCUSSION

The highly severe and long-lasting NAS in both neonates represents a very unusual course following an uneventful pregnancy, and influencing iatrogenic factors cannot be ruled out. Given the multiple variables influencing infant outcomes, this highlights the importance of high-quality, evidence-based standard operating procedures, which (1) are initiated as early as possible during pregnancy to minimize risk factors for adverse infant outcomes, such as concomitant substance use during pregnancy; (2) support the substance-dependent woman throughout the postpartum period, especially in cases of multiple and/or IVF-conceived pregnancies, where additional challenges may arise; and (3) consider the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

Misuse of Prescription Opioid Medication among Women: A Scoping Review

Background. National data from Canada and the United States identify women to be at greater risk than men for the misuse of prescription opioid medications. Various sex- and gender-based factors and patient and physician practices may affect women's use and misuse of prescription opioid drugs. Objectives. To explore the particular risks, issues, and treatment considerations for prescription opioid misuse among women who experience chronic noncancer pain and trauma. Methods. A scoping review for articles published between January 1990 and May 2014 was conducted on sex- and gender-based risks and treatment considerations among women who experience chronic noncancer pain and trauma. Results. A total of 57 articles were identified. The present narrative review summarizes the specific risks for the misuse of prescription opioid medication among women who have experienced violence and trauma, Aboriginal women, adolescents and young women, older women, pregnant women, women of a sexual minority, and transwomen. Discussion. The majority of the literature is descriptive, with few studies that evaluate approaches and interventions to respond to the issue of chronic pain, trauma, and misuse of prescription opioids among women, particularly vulnerable subgroups of women. Conclusions. Trauma-informed and women-centred approaches that address women's vulnerabilities and complex needs require further attention.

Clinical correlates of prescription opioid analgesic use in pregnancy

A 2012 committee opinion from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists highlights the considerable increase in opioid addiction in recent years, yet little is known about clinical correlates of prescribed opioids among pregnant women. This study examines clinical and demographic factors associated with the use of opioid analgesics in pregnancy. Data were derived from a prospective cohort study of pregnant women. Participants were administered the Composite International Diagnostic Interview to identify depressive and anxiety disorders and data on medication use were gathered at three assessment points and classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Code (ATC) classification system ATC group N02A. Participants included 2,748 English or Spanish speaking pregnant women. Six percent (n = 165) of women used opioid analgesics at any point in pregnancy. More pregnant women using opioids met diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder (16 vs. 8 % for non users), generalized anxiety disorder (18 vs. 9 % for non users), post-traumatic stress disorder (11 vs. 4 % for non users) and panic disorder (6 vs. 4 % for non users). Women who reported opioid use were also significantly more likely than non users to report using illicit drugs and almost three times as likely to report smoking cigarettes in the second or third trimester of pregnancy (4 and 23 %, respectively) as compared to non-opioid users (0.5 and 8 %). The use of opioids in pregnancy was associated with higher levels of psychiatric comorbidity and use of other substances as compared to non-opioid users.

Methadone and buprenorphine for opioid dependence during pregnancy: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To compare maternal characteristics, prenatal care, and newborn outcomes in a cohort of opioid-dependent pregnant women treated with methadone versus buprenorphine.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort study, 609 pregnant, opioid-dependent women were treated with methadone (n = 248) or buprenorphine (n = 361) between 2000 and 2012 at a single institution.

RESULTS

Mothers treated with buprenorphine were more likely to start medication before or earlier in pregnancy, had longer gestation, and gave birth to larger infants. Newborns of buprenorphine- versus methadone-maintained mothers required treatment for neonatal abstinence significantly less often and for a shorter duration.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest pregnancy outcomes with buprenorphine to treat opioid dependence during pregnancy in clinical practice are as good and often better than outcomes with methadone. These results are consistent with efficacy data from randomized clinical trials and further support the use of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid dependence during pregnancy.

Treating tobacco use disorder in pregnant women in medication-assisted treatment for an opioid use disorder: a systematic review

Smoking is associated with adverse effects on pregnancy and fetal development, yet 88-95% of pregnant women in medication-assisted treatment for an opioid use disorder smoke cigarettes. This review summarizes existing knowledge about smoking cessation treatments for pregnant women on buprenorphine or methadone, the two forms of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder indicated for prenatal use. We performed a systematic review of the literature using indexed terms and key words to capture the concepts of smoking, pregnancy, and opioid substitution and found that only three studies met search criteria. Contingency management, an incentive based treatment, was the most promising intervention: 31% of participants achieved abstinence within the 12-week study period, compared to 0% in a non-contingent behavior incentive group and a group receiving usual care. Two studies of brief behavioral interventions resulted in reductions in smoking but not cessation. Given the growing number of pregnant women in medication-assisted treatment for an opioid use disorder and the negative consequences of smoking on pregnancy, further research is needed to develop and test effective cessation strategies for this group.

A “Special Population” with “Unique Treatment Needs”: Dominant Representations of “Women's Substance Abuse” and Their Effects

A number of studies suggest that the lack of “gender sensitive” drug treatment services for women represents a pressing social problem, second only to the problem of “women's substance abuse” itself. This article interrogates these “problem representations” by asking on what basis they are considered uniquely problematic. Through a critical analysis of research on women published between 1990–2012 in relevant high impact journals, the article identifies a dominant view of women in the drug field as a “special population” with “unique treatment needs.” The article suggests that this view not only reinforces a limited understanding of the harms associated with women's substance abuse, but might also paradoxically enable programs and services for women to remain as “add-ons” and/or narrow the range of “gender sensitive” approaches adopted.

Maternal opioid drug use during pregnancy and its impact on perinatal morbidity, mortality, and the costs of medical care in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors associated with opioid use during pregnancy and to compare perinatal morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs between opioid users and nonusers.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of pregnancy-related discharges from 1998 to 2009 using the largest publicly available all-payer inpatient database in the United States. We scanned ICD-9-CM codes for opioid use and perinatal outcomes. Costs of care were estimated from hospital charges. Survey logistic regression was used to assess the association between maternal opioid use and each outcome; generalized linear modeling was used to compare hospitalization costs by opioid use status.

RESULTS

Women who used opioids during pregnancy experienced higher rates of depression, anxiety, and chronic medical conditions. After adjusting for confounders, opioid use was associated with increased odds of threatened preterm labor, early onset delivery, poor fetal growth, and stillbirth. Users were four times as likely to have a prolonged hospital stay and were almost four times more likely to die before discharge. The mean per-hospitalization cost of a woman who used opioids during pregnancy was $5,616 (95% CI: $5,166-$6,067), compared to $4,084 (95% CI: $4,002-$4,166) for nonusers.

CONCLUSION

Opioid use during pregnancy is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and increased healthcare costs.

Mother's little helper? Contrasting accounts of benzodiazepine and methadone use among drug-dependent parents in the UK

Aims

To explore the ways in which opioid-dependent parents accounted for their use of opioids and benzodiazepines during and after pregnancy.

Methods

Longitudinal qualitative interviews [n = 45] with 19 opioid-dependent adults recruited in Scotland, UK, were held during the antenatal and post-natal period. Interviews focused on parenting and parenting support within the context of problem drug use and were analysed using a narrative informed, thematic analysis.

Findings

The majority of participants described using benzodiazepines in addition to opioids. Almost all indicated a desire to stop or reduce opioid use, whereas cessation or reduction of benzodiazepines was rarely prioritised. In stark contrast to opioid dependence, benzodiazepine dependence was portrayed as unproblematic, therapeutic and acceptable in the context of family life. Whereas opioid dependence was framed as stigmatising, benzodiazepine use and dependence was normalised. An exception was benzodiazepine use by men which was occasionally associated with aggression and domestic abuse.

Conclusions

Drug-dependent parents attach different meanings to opioid and benzodiazepine use and dependence in the context of parenthood. Divergent meanings, and stigma, may impact on stated commitment to stability or recovery from dependent drug-use. Attention should be paid to the way in which policy and practice regarding OST and benzodiazepines reflects this divergence.

Cannabis, the pregnant woman and her child: weeding out the myths

To review and summarise the literature reporting on cannabis use within western communities with specific reference to patterns of use, the pharmacology of its major psychoactive compounds, including placental and fetal transfer, and the impact of maternal cannabis use on pregnancy, the newborn infant and the developing child. Review of published articles, governmental guidelines and data and book chapters. Although cannabis is one of the most widely used illegal drugs, there is limited data about the prevalence of cannabis use in pregnant women, and it is likely that reported rates of exposure are significantly underestimated. With much of the available literature focusing on the impact of other illicit drugs such as opioids and stimulants, the effects of cannabis use in pregnancy on the developing fetus remain uncertain. Current evidence indicates that cannabis use both during pregnancy and lactation, may adversely affect neurodevelopment, especially during periods of critical brain growth both in the developing fetal brain and during adolescent maturation, with impacts on neuropsychiatric, behavioural and executive functioning. These reported effects may influence future adult productivity and lifetime outcomes. Despite the widespread use of cannabis by young women, there is limited information available about the impact perinatal cannabis use on the developing fetus and child, particularly the effects of cannabis use while breast feeding. Women who are using cannabis while pregnant and breast feeding should be advised of what is known about the potential adverse effects on fetal growth and development and encouraged to either stop using or decrease their use. Long-term follow-up of exposed children is crucial as neurocognitive and behavioural problems may benefit from early intervention aimed to reduce future problems such as delinquency, depression and substance use.