Increase In Deaths Seen In New Mothers And Pregnant Women, Due To Drug Overdose

Deaths due to overdose are now evident in pregnant women and postpartum stages of mothers reached a high number in 2020 during COVID-19 to the study revealed by Mailman School of Public health, Columbia University.

Pregnant women, postpartum women, new moms, overdose, drugs, fentanyl, deaths, — Source: MEDLINE Plus

Drug Overdose in Pregnant women

Increase in Deaths seen in New Mothers and Pregnant women, due to Drug overdose - Asiana Times — Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

Drug overdose can become an obsession for many. In pregnant women, it carries extra risks which may be fatal in some cases.

Women going through the postpartum phases who are new to parenting and the body hormones tend to tackle the stress of using drugs. These both lead to fatal results, in 5 years 180% increase in this pregnancy-related death is reported.

The COVID pandemic causing stressors in the lack of proper healthcare accessibility in many non-COVID cases has made more complications to the situation leading to more deaths.

However, Overdose cases in the general public were common during the pandemic. Now, this study makes clear pregnant women were also victims of the pandemic and drugs.

Study Conducted in Different group of Women

The study was conducted with the death reports between 2017-2020 which mentioned if the women were pregnant during the death or had a baby before a few months. It was compared with the women addicted to drugs of reproductive age. Out of the 2 groups, the results revealed 1249 deaths were due to drugs seen in pregnant women and a 38% increase in women of reproductive age.

The detailed statistical study also reveals there is an alarming increase in the death rate of 80% reaching its peak of 11.85% (20 deaths) per 100000 individuals, in the 2020 pandemic.

The toll of COVID on Moms & Moms to be

Overdose due to fentanyl, cocaine, and meth heightened in number in pregnant women and the graph doubled in 2022, due to COVID. Other drugs used in common are heroin, benzos, and opioids.

Pregnancy and motherhood in themselves are involved with hormone changes, mood swings, and anxiety added to social stigmatization and stress may lead them to hide under drugs.

Women also battle self-criticism and shame spiral to seek help or any therapy and healthcare assistance. Thus, there is a dark unknown world behind every mom & mom to be.

It is High time to take close care of women who are prone to drug usage. Many awareness programs, support groups, and treatment campaigns are to be made accessible to these women. And, also there is a much-needed societal change to stop overburdening pregnant women and their duties.