More Expectant Moms Using Meth/Opioids

Both meth and opioid use is on the rise among expectant moms in the United States, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Public Health. In fact, in the last decade amphetamine use among pregnant women has doubled (from 1.2 per 1,000 hospital deliveries to 2.4). And the rate of opioid-affected births more than quadrupled, from 1.5 per 1,000 deliveries to 6.5. Researchers say these estimates are likely conservative – as they rely on patients’ disclosure of substance abuse as well as proper recording of diagnoses. 

"With substance use, it's not just the opioid epidemic,” Dr. Lindsay Admon, an OB-GYN at Michigan Medicine Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital and the lead author of the study, told U.S. News and World Report. “There are other substances such as methamphetamine use that are also increasing.” 

Unfortunately, the effects of methamphetamine use on pregnancy and the infant aren't as well-studied as opiates, alcohol and cocaine. However, meth use during pregnancy has been linked to numerous birth complications, including higher rates of preeclampsia, placental abruption, preterm delivery and severe maternal morbidity and mortality. 

This is partly because substance abuse during pregnancy often means later prenatal care and fewer prenatal appointments. In addition, women who use meth frequently use tobacco, alcohol and other drugs – and this can also confound the birth outcomes, notes the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Access to addiction treatment for pregnant women also plays a role. 

These findings highlight the fact that “we really need to think carefully about ways to connect women with the treatment resources that they need,” said Dr. Admon. “We have these really clear treatment guidelines for treating patients with opioid use disorder, and we don’t have the same type of guidance, certainly not in obstetrics, about how to best treat women with amphetamine use disorder, and I think there’s definitely a need for that.”

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Rise in Opioid Addiction Among Pregnant Women

Opioid addiction has lead to devastating consequences for many American families and this includes pregnant women. 

According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of women with opioid use disorder (OUD) at labor and delivery more than quadrupled from 1999 to 2014. The rate increased from 1.5 per 1,000 delivery hospitalizations in 1999 to 6.5 in 2014. 

It’s “a significant public health concern,” the report said. This is because opioid addiction can lead to devastating health consequences for both mothers and babies, including 

• Maternal death
• Preterm birth
• Stillbirth
• Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS)

Last year, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) published an article which stated that women with opioid use disorder often "suffer from co-occurring mental health conditions, particularly depression, history of trauma, post traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.”

For the study, researchers analyzed information on women in 28 states. California and Hawaii were the lowest while Maine, New Mexico, Vermont and West Virginia had the largest increase. Still, even in states with small annual increases, there was a rise in women presenting with OUD at labor and delivery.  

"Untreated opioid use disorder during pregnancy can lead to heartbreaking results. Each case represents a mother, a child, and a family in need of continued treatment and support," CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, MD, said in a statement.

The CDC is calling for “state-level action,” including an increased effort from healthcare providers to identify, monitor and treat women with OUD during pregnancy. 

Opioid Addiction Treatment for Women
Making the decision to seek help for your own addiction may be the biggest and most important choice of your life. Let us lead the way. To learn more about our rehab services for women, call today: 866-746-1558.