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News / Optimizing Care For Moms and Babies Affected by Substance Use Disorder

Optimizing Care For Moms and Babies Affected by Substance Use Disorder

Published Jan 24, 2024

Substance use disorder is a chronic disease with lasting effects for the mother, infant, family and community. With the global opioid epidemic, there has been a significant increase in maternal SUD rates further impacted by the “pair of ACEs” — the combined effects of adverse traumatic life events and social determinants of health. According to the Missouri Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review 2018 Annual Report, 54% of pregnancy-related and 43% of pregnancy-associated but unrelated deaths were attributed to SUD. Overall, mental health conditions were the primary underlying cause of pregnancy-related death, with 63% occurring 43 to 365 days postpartum.

Improving health care delivery for moms and babies is a critical priority in Missouri. The Uplift Connection has several resources available to help combat perinatal SUD.

  • An interactive map that connects patients with perinatal SUD providers across the state
  • A guide for health care and social service professionals serving pregnant and parenting persons
  • A form for SUD providers to request to be added to the map
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