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. 2022 Dec 6;328(21):2159-2161.
doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.17045.

US Trends in Drug Overdose Mortality Among Pregnant and Postpartum Persons, 2017-2020

Emilie Bruzelius  1 , Silvia S Martins  1
Affiliations

US Trends in Drug Overdose Mortality Among Pregnant and Postpartum Persons, 2017-2020

Emilie Bruzelius et al. JAMA. .
No abstract available

Plain language summary

This study evaluates changes in overall and drug-specific overdose mortality among pregnant and postpartum persons before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Figures

Figure.
Figure.. Pregnancy-Associated Drug Overdose Mortality
In A, deaths were identified using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, underlying and multiple cause of death codes. Deaths involving more than 1 type of drug were included in rates for each applicable type such that categories are not mutually exclusive. The psychostimulants category included deaths due to psychostimulants with abuse potential, primarily methamphetamine and cocaine. In B, California used a nonstandard question identifying pregnancy within 12 months of death, therefore, deaths occurring late postpartum may be overstated and deaths occurring during pregnancy or early postpartum may be undercounted. Observations with indeterminate timing in mortality records were excluded.
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