A new study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health reveals that buprenorphine treatment significantly improves health outcomes for pregnant women with opioid use disorder (OUD) and their infants. The findings, which will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2025 Meeting in Honolulu, suggest that buprenorphine, a medication commonly used to treat OUD, reduces the risk of preterm birth, health complications, and infant hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
The study found that pregnant women who received buprenorphine were less likely to experience preterm birth, face serious health complications, or have their infants admitted to the NICU compared to those who did not receive the treatment. This research highlights not only the benefits for the mothers in reducing the risk of overdose death but also the significant positive impact on their newborns.
“We know that treatment with medications like buprenorphine substantially reduces the risk of overdose death for pregnant women with opioid use disorder, but its benefits to newborns have not been well understood,” said Dr. Stephen Patrick, MD, MPH, senior author and chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. “We found a profound reduction in preterm birth among infants whose mothers were treated with buprenorphine, which can have a lifelong impact.”
Despite a dramatic increase in opioid use disorder among pregnant women — more than fivefold from 1999 to 2017 — over half of these women still do not receive appropriate treatment, according to the researchers. Preterm birth, a significant public health concern, is more common in women with OUD, with estimates suggesting that up to 20% of pregnant women with OUD experience preterm birth, nearly double the rate among those without OUD. Preterm birth carries a heightened risk of various health issues for children, including respiratory problems, infections, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and sensory impairments.
The study also highlighted stark disparities in access to buprenorphine treatment, with women of color, particularly Black women, being significantly less likely to receive the medication. This finding underscores the need for policies aimed at increasing equitable access to treatment for vulnerable populations, including pregnant women with opioid use disorder.
“Disparities in access to buprenorphine significantly affect vulnerable populations, including pregnant women,” said Sunaya Krishnapura, a graduating medical student at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and the study’s presenting author. “Our findings underscore the urgent need for policies that expand treatment access in the United States to ensure a healthy pregnancy and future for mothers and infants.”
The study analyzed data from over 14,000 pregnant women with opioid use disorder who were enrolled in Tennessee Medicaid between 2010 and 2021. Researchers hope the results will help shape future policies and treatment strategies to better support pregnant women struggling with OUD, ultimately improving both maternal and infant health outcomes.
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