National Provider Survey: Use of Naltrexone for Pregnant Individuals with Substance Use Disorders

A national survey evaluated the availability of naltrexone as a treatment for alcohol use disorder and/or opioid use disorder for pregnant individuals. Provider perceptions of barriers to treatment with naltrexone during pregnancy were also examined.

Sites were selected from a national registry of naltrexone prescribers (N = 5208). A 10% sampling of sites within 150 miles of each state's capital was selected (n = 2073). Survey of 11 questions included availability of naltrexone for pregnant individuals, standard practices for treating pregnant individuals already on naltrexone, and barriers to treatment. Survey responses were summarized to identify top barriers and national trends in service availability.

Of the 236 sites contacted, 78 (33.1%) completed the survey. There was significant geographic variation in number of available sites, with Northeast United States having the most sites. Of the 78 responding sites, only 23 (35.9%) offered naltrexone for pregnant individuals. The most common barriers to prescribing naltrexone included the following: sites without pregnant patients (15.6%), lack of national guidelines in using naltrexone for pregnant patients (14.1%), providers' discomfort with prescribing naltrexone during pregnancy due to safety concerns (9.4%), and providers' discomfort due to inexperience (4.7%).

Accessibility of naltrexone and related care for pregnant individuals with alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder varies greatly across the United States with numerous barriers and educational gaps identified. Additional research and resources are needed to expand naltrexone treatment access for pregnant individuals.