U-of-M study: Nearly 3 percent of pregnancies exposed to opioids

Nearly three percent (2.8) of pregnancies have been exposed to opioids — a startling conclusion in a University of Minnesota study published in the Journal of Women’s Health.  Lead researcher, U-of-M School of Public Health Associate Professor Ruby Nguyen (WIN), says previous studies focused only on groups at highest risk:

“We really wanted a snapshot of what was going on across the country in all populations, not those that are just at highest risk.  And that’s why this number’s particularly startling to us.”

Nguygen says there’s not only risk to the developing baby, but also to the mother who’s probably using opioids inappropriately and will likely continue after the pregnancy.