LSAM Supports Expanding Accessibility of Addiction Medications for Pregnant Women with Opioid Use Disorder

On May 11th, the Louisiana Society of Addiction Medicine (LSAM) sent a letter to members of the House Committee on Health and Welfare in support of SB 268. This legislation would require opioid treatment programs (OTPs) to provide medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to pregnant women.

In the letter, LSAM emphasized that pregnant women with opioid use disorder are among the most stigmatized groups of individuals. In turn, this stigma causes many pregnant women to avoid treatment. Additionally, LSAM noted that women who do seek treatment encounter significant barriers to accessing evidence-based care, including difficulty accessing MOUD. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) National Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder, opioid agonist treatment with methadone and buprenorphine is the standard of care for treating opioid use disorder during pregnancy. As such, LSAM praised SB 268 for upholding the proper standard of care and reducing barriers to treatment for pregnant women in Louisiana.