Imagine being pregnant, in treatment for opioid addiction, and having already survived an overdose. For more than half of the pregnant women in a new study, that's their reality. Researchers looked at 140 pregnant women who were receiving buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder. They found that 55%—77 women—reported at least one lifetime opioid overdose, with some having survived many nonfatal events.
The study aimed to understand what factors are linked to this history of overdose. The analysis pointed to a mix of substance use and life circumstances. The most important factors associated with a history of overdose were: a history of using heroin, experiencing trauma, relying on a partner or parents for money, having symptoms of depression, and a history of using cocaine. The model used to identify these links performed reasonably well at distinguishing between those with and without an overdose history.
It's crucial to understand what this study is and isn't. This is a descriptive look at baseline information from a larger clinical trial. The women were, on average, 31 years old, mostly white, and had been using opioids for nearly nine years. The findings show associations—links between certain factors and a history of overdose. They cannot tell us if these factors caused the overdoses, or what might cause a future overdose during pregnancy. The results are a starting point for recognizing complex risks in a vulnerable group.
