Expand Perinatal Treatment and Support for People with SUDs

Overview

Most doctors recommend that pregnant women undergo a long-term treatment plan called drug-assisted stabilization using methadone, also known as harm reduction therapy. This treatment remains sustainable for a woman after she has given birth, because it's covered under Medicaid, so new mothers can still access the treatment, even after their six-week Medicaid-provided postnatal care is done. The treatment also doesn't subject a woman's mind and body through the stress of full withdrawal, allowing her to focus on caring for herself and her baby.

Promising Practices

Perinatal Addiction Treatment Program

Perinatal Addiction Treatment Program - Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Program Highlights

• Integrated Care Model: Includes maternity care, substance use treatment, behavioral health/psychiatry, pediatrics
• Participant Drive Design
• Private setting 10 minutes from hospital campus
• Tablet-based SBIRT screening
• 18 week parenting class

Outcome Successes

• Perinatal: Average gestational age is over 38 weeks; Average birthweight in the normal range
• Decreased NAS treatment rate
• Decreased neonatal LOS
• Effective use of technology for screening
• 2/3 of participants remain in treatment postpartum

Centering Pregnancy

While not specifically focusing on issues of addiction or substance misuse among pregnant women, the CenteringPregnancy approach has the potential to cost-effectively improve prenatal and perinatal care among women who may be using or be addicted to opioids or other substances. It is a group approach to prenatal and perinatal care. 

Available Tools and Resources

TR - Expand Perinatal Treatment for Women with SUDs