The Care and Treatment of Opioid Using Pregnant Women
Pregnant opioid users have special treatment considerations/needs and should be:
- Attending substance use counseling services.
- Stabilizing on medication assisted therapy.
- Engaging with Child Protective Services.
- Preparing and educating around the experience of neonatal abstinence withdrawal syndrome.
How is the care of opioid using women different from the care of the larger substance using population?
Medication assisted therapy
A pregnant woman using opioids will need to be stabilized in treatment on medication assisted therapy.
Child Protective Services
Pregnant woman using opioids should have Child Protective Services involvement to provide the family with needed services.
Neonatal abstinence withdrawal syndrome
The pregnant woman's
infant may experience neonatal abstinence withdrawal syndrome.
Communication/collaboration between systems of care is integral for a mother's best care.
Substance Use Therapy
In substance use therapy, mothers will work with a therapist on discontinuing the use of substances and building healthy coping skills.
Medical Services
Mothers should be attending prenatal care visits regularly and seeing medical doctors for medication assisted therapy.
Child
Protective Services
Although using while pregnant is not classified as child abuse in New Jersey,
child protective services will offer assistance for a 'family in need of services'.