Rates of opioid use during pregnancy in the United States have more than doubled over the past decade.
Using hospital data from California covering more than 5.5 million pregnancies, researchers found that the prevalence of opioid-related diagnoses during pregnancy rose from 0.14 percent in 2008 to 0.33 percent in 2020—more than a twofold increase and one that mirrors broader national trends in opioid use.
The study, published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, was led by physician-scientists at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and is among the largest population-based analyses to date examining maternal and infant outcomes associated with opioid-related diagnoses during pregnancy.
“Given the prevalence and seriousness of this issue, we were surprised to see the lack of large-scale studies available,” said paper author and OHSU professor Jamie Lo in a statement.
The study found that opioid use during pregnancy was associated with a substantially increased risk of adverse outcomes for infants—including preterm birth, respiratory distress, admission to neonatal intensive care units and infant death.
Maternal health risks were also significantly higher among opioid users. Pregnant individuals with opioid-related diagnoses faced elevated rates of severe and unexpected complications, including hypertension, hemorrhage and the need for blood transfusions.
While opioid use in pregnancy has been studied internationally, U.S.-based research has often focused on a narrow range of outcomes. OHSU researchers say their findings provide a more comprehensive look at the modern scope of the issue and its cascading effects on families.
“Sadly, we know many people who are using opioids while pregnant hesitate to ask for help due to the fear of judgement, and we hope to see that change,” Lo said.
“As providers, our goal is to support patients in a healthy pregnancy and transition to parenthood. These data show that for those struggling with addiction, this should include timely, personalized multi-disciplinary care outside of standard prenatal checkups.”
Researchers stressed the urgent need for accessible, multidisciplinary health care that addresses addiction alongside prenatal and postnatal needs.
Rather than fragmented care, they advocate for a whole-health approach that integrates addiction medicine, obstetrics, primary care, and pediatric services.
“Pregnant patients already face a lot of difficulties in accessing care, but individuals with opioid-use disorders face additional barriers,” said Dr. Kristin Prewitt, a fellow in OHSU’s addiction medicine and maternal-fetal medicine programs.
“In Oregon, only one in four residential treatment programs offer care for pregnant persons, and some counties have no obstetric care or addiction care resources available at all.”
According to Prewitt, early identification and intervention are key. Evidence suggests that linking patients to comprehensive care earlier in pregnancy improves outcomes for both parents and children.
“If we’re aware early on that an individual faces these additional risks, we can ensure they receive personalized, multidisciplinary care in the prenatal and postnatal periods, and ultimately when they move onto pediatric care with their child,” she said.
Newsweek reached out to the researchers for the study.
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Reference
Prewitt, K. C., Ryan, K. S., Garg, B., Hayer, S., Hagen, O. L., Sullivan, E. L., Caughey, A. B., Benson, A. E., & Lo, J. O. (2024). Maternal Opioid-related Diagnosis in Pregnancy and Risk of Adverse Perinatal Outcomes. Journal of Addiction Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000001638
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