According to a study published Wednesday by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), overdose deaths among pregnant and postpartum women nearly tripled between 2018 and 2021.
The NIH reported that the rate of overdoses increased from 4.9 per 100,000 women aged 35-44 to 15.8 in 2021.
The study authors noted that the rising overdose rate could indicate significant barriers to addiction treatment among vulnerable populations.
Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), stated, “The stigma and punitive policies that burden pregnant women with substance use disorder increase overdose risk by making it harder to access life-saving treatment and resources.”
“Reducing barriers and the stigma that surrounds addiction can open the door for pregnant individuals to seek and receive evidence-based treatment and social support to sustain their health as well as their child’s health,” she continued.
The study was conducted to better understand the impact of the COVID pandemic on overdose rates and people with substance abuse disorders, the NIH said. Overall, overdose rates rose sharply during the pandemic.
A similar study in late 2022 found a significant increase in overdose deaths among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NIH study also revealed that women who died of overdoses while pregnant were more likely to be younger than those who died of other complications during pregnancy. Overdose deaths were also more likely to occur outside of health care facilities, despite a majority having access to high-quality hospitals.
Emily Einstein, NIDA Science Policy Branch chief and a study co-author, stated, “These results reflect the persistent national overdose crisis and demonstrate that pregnancy is an urgent time for interventions that can reduce the risk of overdose.”
“Stigmatizing and penalizing women with substance use disorders makes it very hard for them to seek help for drug use and receive routine prenatal care,” she continued. “Effective treatments and medical services exist — unfettered access is needed to help mothers and children survive.”
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