Oregon programs facilitate care for pregnant women with substance use disorders

Navigating substance use disorder can be especially difficult for those who are pregnant. As reported in InvestigateWest, state data shows that mental health conditions and substance use disorder were the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths in Oregon from 2018 to 2021. And a study from OHSU found that the rate of opioid use during pregnancy has more than doubled over the last decade.

Those with substance use disorder are often reluctant to seek prenatal care due to stigma around their addiction, and drug treatment centers often turn away pregnant patients due to potential health risks. Efforts like Project Nurture and Nurture Oregon aim to integrate behavioral health and perinatal care by connecting pregnant clients with peer support, social services and other resources.

Diana Smith is the clinical lead for Project Nurture at Legacy Health. Sarah Bovee is a perinatal peer mentor and doula for Project Nurture. They join us to talk about providing simultaneous prenatal care and treatment for substance use disorder.