Yes! It’s safer to be on substitution treatment while pregnant than using streets drugs or quitting cold turkey.
Why is it safer to be on substitution treatment while pregnant?
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- Withdrawal can lead to miscarriage, having stillbirth, or premature birth of your baby
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What are the benefits of substitution treatment while pregnant?
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- Improved nutrition for you and your baby
- Decreased chances of withdrawal
- Decreased chances of blood infections from injecting drugs
- Decreased chances of infant death
- Increased birth weight
- Increased infant head circumference
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Are there any disadvantages to substitution treatment while pregnant?
Like any other drug, there are disadvantages to being on substitution treatment.
Some of these disadvantages include bare:
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- Being constipated, increased sweating, lowered libido, and insomnia.
- While better than heroin, Methadone may lead to a more pronounced Neonatal
Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)
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What’s NAS?
NAS is the baby being born dependent (not addicted) on the drugs the mother was taking.
A baby with NAS will go through withdrawal within the first few days being born. NAS is a treatable condition under proper supervision.
Is there a specific substitution medication for pregnant individuals?
Currently, Methadone is the most researched and supported substitution medication for pregnant individuals; Buprenorphine has also been supported in some cases. It is best to check with your doctor about the best option for you.
More Resources
Click here for a pamphlet on pregnancy and medication assisted treatment
And here’s a video describing what that process might look like in Substitution treatment: