Sufrin, C., Sutherland, L., Beal, L., Terplan, M., Latkin, C., & Clarke, J. G. (2020). Opioid use disorder incidence and treatment among incarcerated pregnant women in the United States: results from a national surveillance study. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 115(11), 2057–2065. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15030 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32141128/ 

The goal of this study was to gain insight into the prevalence of OUD in pregnant people who are incarcerated and how many people utilize MOUD while incarcerated. 22 prisons and 6 jails were surveyed about the prevalence of pregnant people who are incarcerated and have OUD and how many are receiving MOUD. To recruit for this study, the largest prison systems and 5 largest jails in the U.S. were asked to participate, and then snowball sampling was used for facilities of any size. Except for 4 prisons and 2 jails, the rest of the facilities provided MOUD to pregnant people. 26% of pregnant people who were incarcerated in prisons met the criteria for OUD, and 14% in jails did as well. Most facilities did not initiate MOUD, however, 18 prisons and 4 jails continued MOUD that began before incarceration. The majority of facilities discontinued treatment after pregnancy. 

Bottom Line: 26% of incarcerated pregnant people and 14% in jails met criteria for OUD, and the majority of facilities offered MOUD to pregnant people, however, usually only continuation and not initiation.