Good News: Experts think naloxone is saving new moms, as maternal overdose rates plummet in Colorado | A Positive Story

Good News: Experts think naloxone is saving new moms, as maternal overdose rates plummet in Colorado | A Positive Story

Why this story matters: Amid constant bad news, it’s important to highlight examples of progress that rarely make the front page. Quick summary: This story highlights recent developments related to rates, showing how constructive action can lead to meaningful results. In Colorado, from 2016 to 2020, 33 women who were pregnant or had recently given birth died from accidental overdoses. That’s more than died from traditional obstetric complications like infection, high blood pressure, or bleeding combined. More recent data shows an encouraging turnaround. The number of maternal overdose deaths dropped 60%, from 20 in 2022 to eight in 2023. I think one contributing factor might be increased access to naloxone for moms and families across the state. As a perinatal addiction medicine physician, I specialize in taking care of pregnant people and families impacted by substance use disorder. Part of the care I provide is prescribing or distributing naloxone directly to patients and their family m…