Opioids Affect the Fetal Brain: Reframing the Detoxification Debate

Medication-Assisted Treatment is recommended for individuals with an opioid use disorder including pregnant women. Medication-Assisted Treatment during pregnancy provides benefits to the mother and fetus including better pregnancy outcomes, reduced illicit drug use and improved prenatal care. An alternative approach, medically supervised withdrawal (detoxification), has, in recent reports, demonstrated a low risk of fetal death, low rates of relapse and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. The rates of relapse and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome are questioned by many who view medically supervised withdrawal as unacceptable based on the concern for the potential adverse consequences of relapse to mother and baby.
Source: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Category: OBGYN Authors: Tags: Clinical Opinion Source Type: research