AWHONN Position Statement: Optimizing Outcomes for Women With Substance Use Disorders in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

SOURCE: Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses. Optimizing Outcomes for Women With Substance Use Disorders in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period. JOGNN, DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2019.06.001

ABSTRACT: The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) opposes laws and other reporting requirements that result in incarceration or other punitive legal actions against women because of a substance use disorder (SUD) in pregnancy and the postpartum period. AWHONN supports universal verbal screening for substance use during pregnancy using a validated tool that should begin at entry into prenatal care and continue periodically throughout pregnancy. Early identification and treatment of women with SUD and/or dependence is a critical component of preconception and prenatal care and is important to support healthy birth outcomes.

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