Pregnant Women With Opioid Use Miss Life-Saving MAT

There’s good news and bad news in the fight against opioid addiction among pregnant women. The good news is that more pregnant women in opioid recovery are getting care but the bad news is that far too few are receiving the life-saving medications they and their babies need. 

Increasing Access to Care for Pregnant Women With OUD

Pregnant women deserve the best care that modern medicine can offer them and their unborn children. However, this is not always the case in everyday clinical practice, as a recent study from the University of Michigan has found.

When pregnant women battling opioid use disorders (OUD) seek medical help in hopes of a fresh start, more often than not, they don’t receive the evidence-based therapies they need to quit drugs successfully and keep their babies safe.

Pregnant Women With OUD Are Actively Seeking Help

The study found that expecting mothers battling OUD seek healthcare services at a higher rate than the general population. Meaning, they want help for a safe pregnancy. 

Despite their desire for medical guidance, only 47.4% of women diagnosed with OUD are prescribed medication for OUD—commonly known as medication assisted treatment (MAT)—which is the gold standard for safely quitting opioid addiction. Why is this happening?

Barriers to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

MAT is an approved therapy, with effective drugs such as methadone or buprenorphine, for quitting opioids and safely managing the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that can occur when a person gets clean.

Abrupt opioid withdrawal during pregnancy can be dangerous without medical supervision, increasing risks for both mother and fetus. Medically managed detox with MAT helps stabilize opioid levels while reducing withdrawal-related complications.

MAT in pregnant women is recommended, but still, not everyone who needs it ends up getting a prescription. There are many reasons for this. 

Women may visit a healthcare professional who cannot prescribe these medications. In some cases, they may visit fragmented providers who only care for their mental health symptoms or physical care, so coordinating a MAT protocol may seem risky or too complex.

Additionally, there are still some prejudices in clinical circles about using medications for combating opioid addiction, combined with the fact that many providers are unaware that they can prescribe medications for OUD. 

These factors all explain why less than half of the women who may benefit from these medications actually receive them.

A Missed Opportunity for Safe Medical Detox

Helping women quit opioids safely is a moral responsibility. 

Pregnant women battling OUD face an elevated risk of preterm births, which can expose babies to long-term complications, such as respiratory conditions, neurological and developmental disabilities, and vision problems.

The study identified with robust data that pregnant women who are under the grip of addiction actively seek medical help to have healthy babies and quit for good. 

Care providers must coordinate efforts to align prenatal care interventions with MAT so every woman who wants a fresh start can access the medication they need to build a better life for themselves and their child.

Find a Medical Detox With MAT for Pregnancy

If you want to start a new chapter in your life and provide your child with a healthy beginning, non-judgmental help is available.

Addiction can happen to anyone. You deserve a second chance, and with expert assistance, you don’t have to walk this path alone.

Treatment centers across the nation offer medically managed detox and medication assisted treatment (MAT) tailored to pregnant women. There are inpatient and outpatient options designed to support both mother and baby.

Detox.com’s national directory is a leading hub in the United States to easily find detox centers near you. You can search for recovery programs based on treatment types, insurance provider, amenities offered, levels of care, services, and more.

If you’re looking for immediate support, call 800-996-6135(Sponsored) today.