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

Abstract

From 2018 to 2021, the mortality ratio more than tripled among pregnant and postpartum women aged 35 to 44 years, consistent with increases in overdose mortality across US populations. Most pregnancy-associated overdose deaths occurred outside health care settings, indicating the need for strengthening community outreach and maternal medical support. To reduce pregnancy-associated overdose mortality, evidence-based interventions are urgently needed at individual, health care, local, and national levels, along with nonpunitive approaches incentivizing pregnant and postpartum women to seek substance use disorder treatments.