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There are a range of treatment and support options available to you. Not all treatment requires you to stay at a facility. Our treatment approach considers all of your needs, medical or otherwise.
Seeking help for addiction, especially during pregnancy, can feel daunting. It’s important to understand that your treatment journey is confidential. Both voluntary Substance Use Disorder (SUD) programs and medication-assisted therapy for opioid use disorder (MAT) provide a safe environment where you can seek support. Your treatment provider is committed to safeguarding your privacy and will not disclose information about your treatment without your consent.
Participating in treatment voluntarily or leaving treatment does not result in your being reported to child protective services. Child protective services would only be contacted if there are concerns about abuse or neglect of your children, or if you already have a caseworker and other children at home.
In certain cases, if you are receiving inpatient or residential treatment, arrangements may be made for your children to stay with you. For outpatient treatment involving group therapy, you might have the option to bring your children along. Be sure to inquire about available childcare services.
It's important to remember that social services will only intervene to remove a child if there is a credible risk of abuse or neglect. By seeking treatment, you are demonstrating your commitment to creating a better life for yourself and your children.
If a fetus is exposed to opioids or other substances in utero, child protection services will be called by hospital staff when the baby is born. Additionally, if at any point, a medical professional determines that the substance use of any parent may put a baby or children in the home, at risk for harm or neglect, the professional is required by law to make a report to child protective services. However, when a report is made to child protective services, it does not automatically mean your baby will be removed from your custody, especially if you are in treatment and sincerely working toward recovery. There are strategies to help increase the likelihood your baby will remain with you after birth. Talk to a social worker or Substance Use Counselor about these strategies.
Information about your treatment is protected by law. Your treatment provider will protect your privacy and will not share any information regarding your treatment with anyone outside of your treatment team without your consent. However, as of July 1 2024, if you are under the age of 18 years, your providers will need to obtain your parental consent in order to treat you unless you are emancipated by marriage, military, have a court order declaring you as emancipated, or you have rejected the parent-child relationship, are living on your own, and are self-supporting.
Slip ups and relapses are part of the journey to recovery. SUD providers know this and will not stop your treatment if you are sincerely seeking help. Your process may take several tries, and sometimes several different approaches. Providers are available to listen and provide unbiased support.
If Suboxone (buprenorphine) makes you nauseous during pregnancy, there are several strategies to help with this. First, divide your dose into smaller doses and take each dose with food. Then you can try switching from strips to tablets or trying a different formulation. There are also several strategies for anti-nausea treatments that can be used in pregnancy. Your first line option is ginger (e.g. ginger tea). Talk to your provider to figure out the best strategy for you.
Under general, non-life-threatening circumstances, a drug test on an adult should never be performed without the person’s knowledge and consent. However, if a person is unconscious and unable to consent, a provider can order a drug test to allow for decisions to be made for medical care (e.g. overdose to save a person’s life). Drug tests may also be requested during labor to inform medical decision making if preterm labor, excess bleeding, or other pregnancy complications occur and/or if a person appears to be in withdrawal or under the influence of drugs/alcohol. Additionally, a parent’s consent is not required to order a drug test for a baby. After a baby is born, your provider may decide to drug test your baby’s meconium (first poop) or umbilical cord. These tests can detect the baby’s exposures for the last three months of pregnancy.
Yes. Buprenorphine and methadone for opioid use disorder are safe and effective for mom and baby during pregnancy. When treated with the right medication, it reduces the likelihood of complications with fetal development, labor, and delivery. Medications for other substance use disorders may be indicated if the benefits outweigh the risks. If medication isn’t warranted, other treatments modalities and support groups are highly effective and are available to help you achieve your goals. Discuss your options with your provider today.
In Idaho, most “inpatient” treatment is called “residential” treatment. This means that you live or “reside” in the facility where you are receiving care. Residential treatment is best for someone who needs 24hr support and/or was unable to stop using drugs or alcohol without leaving their living current situation. Outpatient treatment means you continue to stay at home or in your current living situation and see a provider in a clinic usually once a week supplemented by other activities such as support groups and counseling.
As of 2020, much of Idaho is considered a healthcare “Maternity Care Desert.” Idaho also has banned abortion, opted not to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage, and disbanded the state committee that investigated root causes of maternal deaths making it the only US state without a maternal mortality review.
Pregnant women who are using substances or have a history of substance use may have their rights violated during pregnancy or delivery. Examples of this may include being told you can’t have pain relief during labor, being told to stop Medication Assisted Therapy (buprenorphine or methadone) during pregnancy or lactation, being drug tested without consent, or having your confidential medical information shared.
Even if you continue to use alcohol or drugs during pregnancy, you have the right to –
Did you know that being depressed during pregnancy can affect your unborn baby? Many medications used to treat depression are considered safe to take in pregnancy.
Breastmilk has advantages for both the mother and baby. Both methadone and buprenorphine (Suboxone® or Subutex® ) are okay to take while breastfeeding.
Opioid withdrawal during pregnancy increases the risk of return to opioid use without benefit to mother or baby.
If a pregnant woman is given naloxone and is dependent on opioids (that is, needs opioids to feel normal or good) giving naloxone may cause her unborn baby to start to stress.
Maternal anxiety & depression are the most common complications of childbirth, impacting up to 1 in 5 women.
Your Health IS your Baby’s Health. The mom’s well-being is a key determinant of the health for her baby.
There are 60,000 ER visits every year for children who accidentally take medication found in the home.
Using opioids during pregnancy can pose serious risks to both the mother and the unborn baby. Opioids, including prescription painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone, as well as illegal drugs like heroin, can lead to complications such as preterm birth, low birth weight, birth defects, and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in the baby. NAS occurs when a baby is exposed to opioids in the womb and experiences withdrawal symptoms after birth.
Pregnant individuals who are using opioids should seek medical help as soon as possible to ensure the safety of both themselves and their baby. Healthcare providers may recommend medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs that involve the use of medications like methadone or buprenorphine to help manage opioid dependence during pregnancy. These programs are typically combined with counseling and support services to address the underlying issues of addiction.
It’s crucial for pregnant individuals who are struggling with opioid use to be open and honest with their healthcare providers so they can receive appropriate care and support throughout their pregnancy.
The effects of methamphetamine use on pregnancy and fetal development have been less well studied than those of opiates, alcohol, and cocaine. Available information indicates that methamphetamine use during pregnancy is consistently associated with a risk for premature birth and low birth weight. As is the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, particularly when used in early pregnancy.
Methamphetamine use appears to be associated with neonatal and childhood neurodevelopmental abnormalities. This means methamphetamine crosses the placenta and affects the developing brain of the fetus. This can lead to long-term cognitive and behavioral issues for the child, including problems with attention, learning, and emotional regulation.
Pregnant women who use methamphetamines are at higher risk of high blood pressure, certain infections, and other complications during pregnancy and delivery. They may also have poor nutrition which, especially if paired with inadequate prenatal care, may endanger both their own health and the health of the baby.
Pregnant women struggling with methamphetamine use should seek immediate help from healthcare providers. Treatment may involve medical detoxification (under medical supervision), counseling, contingency management, support services, and possibly medication to address addiction and improve maternal and fetal health outcomes.
For mothers, cocaine use during pregnancy can lead to high blood pressure, seizures, and increased risk of placental abruption (where the placenta separates from the uterus wall prematurely), which can be life-threatening for both the mother and the baby.
Cocaine use during pregnancy also increases the risk of premature delivery. Babies born to mothers who use cocaine are often smaller than those born to non-users. Children exposed to cocaine during pregnancy may experience developmental delays, behavioral problems, and learning difficulties later in life.
There is an increased risk of certain structural birth defects with cocaine use. However, the drug itself may or may not be a direct cause of these birth defects and many other factors may be involved.
Newborns whose mothers use cocaine during pregnancy may experience a complication at birth called Neonatal Withdrawal Syndrome which can be a medical emergency.
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