QUESTION
Should pregnant women using opioids or other substances stop using them immediately?
ANSWER: No. Going “cold turkey” from opioid use—even when medically supervised—is not currently recommended. Doing this is associated with higher rates of relapse for the mother and worse outcomes for the baby. Maintaining the stability of the patient is the recommended course of treatment for both the mother and baby.
Source: SAMHSA, 2018
Source: SAMHSA, 2018
ANSWER: Safe and effective interventions exist for pregnant women, including MAT. MAT helps control symptoms, such as cravings, which helps the mother regain control over decisions and rebuild a more stable life and social environment. Use of these interventions can result in healthy outcomes for both the mother and baby.
QUESTION
Can women receive meidcation-assisted treatment (MAT), such as methadone or buprenorphine, while pregnant?
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2018
ANSWER: Success rates for SUD treatment are similar to success rates for certain other health conditions. For example, SUD treatment has the same success rate as the treatment of asthma or diabetes. In addition, people with substance use disorders, in particular, are as likely to adhere to treatment as people with other chronic medical conditions, such as hypertension or diabetes.
QUESTION
What are success rates for SUD treatment compared to other health conditions?
Source: CDC, 2019
ANSWER: While mothers are encouraged to quit smoking while breastfeeding, the benefits of breast milk outweigh any potential risks of smoking. The CDC suggests not smoking while breastfeeding the baby and making sure the home is smoke free.
QUESTION
Should women who smoke breastfeed their baby?