CDC Report: Prescription Opioid Use among Women of Reproductive Age

The CDC has released the report Opioid Prescription Claims Among Women of Reproductive Age — United States, 2008–2012 in the January 23, 2015 MMWR. Of women of reproductive age, 39% of those enrolled in Medicaid and 28% of those with private insurance filled an opioid prescription each year of the reporting period (2008-2012). These findings are significant as opioid use before and in early pregnancy are linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The most frequently prescribed opioids among women in both groups were hydrocodone, codeine, and oxycodone.