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Toxic Drugs Fuel Pregnancy Crisis
16 Apr
Summary
- Overdoses are the leading cause of maternal death in VCH.
- Substance use during pregnancy nearly doubles infant death risk.
- Preventable harms in pregnancy are linked to the drug crisis.
The toxic drug crisis has led to preventable harms for pregnant individuals, according to a new report from Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH). Overdoses have become the primary cause of maternal death within the VCH region.
Data revealed that drug-related overdoses directly account for nearly half of maternal postpartum deaths over the past 15 years. This situation highlights a significant rise in substance use during pregnancy observed since 2015.
While most births in VCH have positive outcomes, a small group, approximately 120 individuals annually, experience severe documented substance use during pregnancy. These individuals face a devastating burden of negative outcomes.
Outcomes for this vulnerable group are stark, with nearly one percent of both mothers and babies dying each year, a rate comparable to some of the world's poorest countries. Experts emphasize that these outcomes are preventable.
Recommendations to mitigate these harms include strengthening integrated perinatal and substance-use care. Expanding low-barrier, trauma-informed prenatal and postpartum services, particularly outside of Vancouver, is also crucial.
