According to the CDC's Opioid Use During Pregnancy, the number of women with opioid use disorder at labor and delivery more than quadrupled from 1999 to 2014. Opioid exposure during pregnancy may lead to adverse health effects for both mothers and their babies, including maternal death, poor fetal growth, preterm birth, stillbirth, specific birth defects, and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)/neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). The effects of prenatal opioid exposure on children are largely unknown. Pregnancy provides an opportunity to identify existing health risks in women, including opioid use disorder (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD) to help prevent future health problems for women and their children.
This webinar addressed health disparities and inequities associated with maternal health, OUD and SUD. We presented model interventions to ensure pregnant mothers have access to equitable care and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
