In Case You Haven't Heard…

Abstract

The benefits of telehealth for treating opioid use disorder are by now well accepted, but what if the patient is postpartum? There are really two patients — the mom who needs treatment and the baby. Well, not to worry, according to a recent article published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. In fact, these moms really need telehealth medication‐assisted treatment, based on the case example of a post‐C‐section (needed medication for pain) mom who developed a definite addiction to opioids — with a baby and a three year old. And she, not surprisingly, did not want to go through withdrawal while taking care of her children. Going into a treatment program on a regular basis was not an option. She was unable to continue to afford pills, and moved on to injecting heroin. She then became pregnant again and was worried that Child Protective Services would take all of her children. And eventually via an online search, she found a physician who could prescribe buprenorphine and would work with her obstetrician. She attended weekly psychotherapy and prenatal care and stayed on buprenorphine. For this happy ending story, and the discussion to go along with it (aimed at psychiatrists), go to https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20060949.