Overdose deaths increased in pregnant and postpartum women from early 2018 to late 2021

University courses Medicine & Psychology
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A recent study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reveals a concerning increase in drug overdose deaths among pregnant and postpartum women aged 10 to 44 between January to June 2018 and July to December 2021. The overdose mortality more than tripled among those aged 35 to 44, reaching 15.8 deaths per 100,000 mothers with a live birth in the latter period. Over 60% of these deaths occurred outside healthcare settings, highlighting potential barriers to accessing treatment.

The findings underscore the need to reduce barriers and destigmatise addiction to improve access to evidence-based treatment and support for pregnant individuals.

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Wow, these findings are really concerning. It’s distressing to see such a significant increase in overdose deaths, especially among pregnant and postpartum women. The fact that a majority of these deaths occurred outside healthcare settings highlights the urgent need to break down barriers to treatment.

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