Addressing Perinatal Substance Use: A Triad Approach Led by the Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative.

Unintentional overdose is a leading driver of maternal death in Colorado. The high volume of maternal deaths from preventable causes lends questions to failures in our clinical and community-based care for pregnant and postpartum people. The Colorado Maternal Mortality Review Committee identified 3 main contributors including stigma in the community and health care system, fragmentation of the health care system, and the need for more clinician training.

Integrated Care for Pregnant and Parenting People With Substance Use.

Caring for pregnant people with substance use requires knowledge about specific substances used, treatment options, and an integrated, trauma-informed care team. This chapter will discuss crucial information for clinicians regarding evidence-based practice for screening, intervention, and ongoing support for pregnant people and their families impacted by substance use.

Pharmacological treatment of opioid use disorder in pregnancy.

Pharmacotherapy, or medication-assisted treatment (MAT), is a critical component of a comprehensive treatment plan for the pregnant woman with opioid use disorder (OUD). Methadone and buprenorphine are two types of opioid-agonist therapy which prevent withdrawal symptoms and control opioid cravings. Methadone is a long-acting mu-opioid receptor agonist that has been shown to increase retention in treatment programs and attendance at prenatal care while decreasing pregnancy complications.