Rehab for Pregnant Women in Florida: Medical Care Comes First

What mainstream medical guidance says about opioids in pregnancy

According to the CDC’s page on treating opioid use disorder in pregnancy, clinical guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) says that quickly stopping opioids during pregnancy is not recommended. The CDC says it can lead to preterm labor, fetal distress and miscarriage.

The CDC says current recommendations for pregnant women with opioid use disorder include medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), rather than supervised withdrawal. Methadone and buprenorphine are first-line options, and ACOG and SAMHSA recommend them together with behavioral therapy and medical services. SAMHSA’s buprenorphine page says buprenorphine and methadone are considered the treatments of choice for opioid use disorder in pregnant and breastfeeding women.

The CDC also says neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a set of withdrawal signs in the newborn, is an expected condition after exposure to these medicines, and that a concern for NAS alone should not stop providers from prescribing them. After delivery, ACOG and SAMHSA say women should keep taking their medication as prescribed. Any plan to stop later should be made slowly, with the care team.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Please talk with a doctor before making any change to medications or substance use.

Alcohol and other substances

If the concern is alcohol, sedatives like benzodiazepines, stimulants or another substance, the message is the same: tell a doctor. Withdrawal from heavy alcohol or sedative use can be dangerous for anyone, and pregnancy adds more to manage. A doctor can plan care that keeps both mother and baby as safe as possible. Our detox page explains what medical withdrawal care looks like.

Which level of care often fits

• Outpatient care with medication. Many pregnant women with opioid use disorder are treated with methadone or buprenorphine while living at home and keeping prenatal visits. See our medication-assisted treatment page.
• Intensive outpatient (IOP). More support several days a week, while still at home with family.
• Residential. When use is severe, home isn’t safe or more support is needed. Ask whether the program accepts pregnant women and how it handles medical care and children.

Fear of legal or child welfare trouble keeps many women from asking for help. We can’t give legal advice. If you have a specific worry, ask the program how it handles reporting, or talk with a Florida attorney. Getting care is usually the step that protects mother and baby.

More guides: rehab for women, care for young adults, help for families and checking insurance benefits. You can see every group we cover on our specialized care guides page.