Lead Story:

Pregnancy and Postpartum Drug Overdose Deaths in the US Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

JAMA Psychiatry

This cross-sectional exploratory study examined knowledge gaps in overdose deaths among pregnant and postpartum persons from 2018-2021 as compared to nonpregnant overdose deaths and obstetrical deaths. Overdose deaths among pregnant and postpartum women consistently increased among those aged 10 to 44 years, and more than tripled among those aged 35 to 44 years, from 4.9 per 100,000 from January-June 2018 to 15.8 from July-December 2021. These deaths differed from nonpregnant overdose deaths and obstetrical deaths in sociodemographic characteristics and place of death. Among overdose deaths in total (pregnant and nonpregnant), nearly 75% occurred outside of health care settings. Clearly more work needs to be done to treat SUDs in this population. 

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