Wednesday, August 15, 2018

First year after childbirth deadly for opioid-addicted women

For low-income women addicted to opioids, the first year after childbirth can be deadly. According to a study published this month, opioid overdose deaths decline during pregnancy, then peak between seven and 12 months after delivery.

 "Sleep deprivation, dramatic hormonal shifts and the day-to-day realities of caring for an infant create enormous stress for all women, but especially for those who are struggling to stay in recovery from drug use. And yet most medical protocols and social safety net programs are set up to shift attention away from the mother after delivery and focus exclusively on the new baby," Christine Vestal reports for Stateline, the news outlet of the Pew Charitable TrustsRead more here.


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