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Substitution agonist treatments for opiate dependent pregnant women over assisted withdrawal
Summary of the evidence
Evidence-based international guidelines (WHO, 2014) strongly recommend to advise opioid dependent pregnant women to use substitution treatment rather than attempt opioid detoxification.
Evidence does not support detoxification as a recommended treatment intervention as a result of low detoxification completion rates, high rates of relapse, and limited data regarding the effect of detoxification on maternal and neonatal outcomes beyond delivery (Dashe et al, 2018).
Details
Note: this evidence summary is only valid for the outcomes, target groups, settings and substances/patterns of use described below.