03/24/2026
Opioid Use During Pregnancy Doubled in the Last Decade.
An analysis of records from more than 5.5 million pregnancies found that opioid use by expectant mothers increased from 0.14% to 0.33% between 2008 and 2020. Experts note that pregnancy-related opioid use doubles the risk for delivery complications, elevates the risk of preterm birth by 71%, and leads to significantly worse outcomes for infants, including a greater need for neonatal intensive care.
Journal of Addiction Medicine, December 2025