Drs. Jarlenski and Krans conducted a scoping review including seven studies that highlight the literature's limited understanding of why women in the first year postpartum are particularly vulnerable to opioid overdose. Recomendations within the literature include:
(1) identifying subgroups of women with OUD at highest risk for postpartum overdose,
(2) assessing opioid use, overdose, and risks throughout the first year postpartum,
(3) evaluating the effect of co-occurring physical and mental health conditions and substance use disorders,
(4) investigating the social and contextual determinants of opioid use and overdose after delivery,
(5) increasing MOUD retention and treatment engagement postpartum, and
(6) utilizing rigorous and multidisciplinary research methods to understand and prevent postpartum overdose.
Read more about their findings here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36840785/