Reduce Stigma for Pregnant Women with Opioid Addictions
Return to Opioid Top-Level Strategy Map or ZOOM MAP - Expand Steps to Minimize Opioid Use During Pregnancy or Pregnancy during Opioid Use
Table of Contents
Current Status
- Many women have reported that they delayed or avoided prenatal care altogether out of fear of punishment[1]
- 18 states consider substance abuse during pregnancy to be grounds for child abuse.[2]
- Alabama's Supreme Court has upheld convictions ruling that a woman's substance abuse during pregnancy is criminal child abuse.[3]
- Tennessee is the only state to specifically criminalize drug use during pregnancy.[4]
- A number of states require healthcare professionals to report or test for prenatal drug exposure, which can be used as evidence in child-welfare proceedings.[5]
- Most doctors recommend that pregnant women undergo a long-term treatment plan called drug-assisted stabilization using methadone, also known as harm reduction therapy. This treatment remains sustainable for a woman after she has given birth, because it's covered under Medicaid, so new mothers can still access the treatment, even after their six-week Medicaid-provided postnatal care is done. The treatment also doesn't subject a woman's mind and body through the stress of full withdrawal, allowing her to focus on caring for herself and her baby.
Tools & Resources
TR - Reduce Stigma for Pregnant Women with Opioid Addictions
The new (2018) Pregnancy and Opioids Guide from the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids has a wide range of content, including a section on addressing stigma.
Scorecard Building
Potential Objective Details
Potential Measures and Data Sources
Potential Actions and Partners
Resources to Investigate
More RTI on Reduce Stigma for Pregnant Women with Opioid Addictions
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